Sugar Production at Salima Sugar Factory has halted in the last two months, following the coronavirus pandemic traveling restrictions which have kept technical experts from India to carry out factory maintenance. On the other hand, since the factory has not been in operation 3500 employees have been affected.

The Green Belt Authority (GBA) director of finance and investment Amon Mluwira told The Nation newspaper that the factory was supposed to start sugar production in April, but in the unfortunate unavailability of the experts from India, there are no alternative expertise to operate the machines.

60% of Salima Sugar Factory is owned by Aum Sugar Company of India, while 40% belongs to the Malawi Government, holding 3 300 seasonal workers and 200 permanent workers. According to Mluwira, the factory may resume production in June.