Trade Minister, Sosten Gwengwe, has said the government is aware of the problems outgrower sugar producers are facing due to declining revenue of the crop.

“I am proud to tell you that Malawi is a net-exporter of sugar, and the import ban will continue to stand for the benefit of the local companies and out growers who supply sugarcane in the country,” he said.

Recently, Henry Chimunthu Banda, presented figures that showed that sugar earnings for farmers went down by a minimum of 15-25%. Banda attributed the drop in prices to the influx of illegal and imported sugar on the domestic market. Months ago, Sugarcane farmers in Nkhotakota went to court over grievances about sugar sales with Illovo Sugar Company. A statement signed by Banda who is representing the farmers, says the farmers decided to take the matter to court after unsuccessful efforts to engage the company. “Having failed to bring Illovo to a negotiating table, we have thus issued instructions to our lawyers to approach the High Court of Malawi to seek interim reliefs,” he said.