By Suleman Chitera
Farmers from Salima District who supply sugarcane to Salima Sugar Company on Friday staged a sit-in protest at the company’s headquarters in Lilongwe, demanding immediate payment of outstanding dues amounting to K1.8 billion.
The farmers say the debt covers payments for sugarcane supplied in October, November, and December, money they argue is long overdue and has pushed many of them to the brink of financial collapse.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, some of the affected farmers accused the company of negligence and poor communication, saying they were informed too late that the company’s processing section had broken down. As a result, significant quantities of their sugarcane were damaged, translating into direct losses for the growers.
“The impact has been devastating. Some of us failed to buy fertilizer for the new farming season, while others cannot afford school fees for our children,” said one farmer during the protest. “We depend entirely on these payments for our livelihoods.”
The farmers warned that continued delays could cripple sugarcane production in Salima and surrounding areas, with long-term consequences for both growers and the sugar industry.
Efforts to obtain a response from Salima Sugar Company management were unsuccessful, as calls to senior officials went unanswered by press time.
The protest underscores growing tensions between agro-processing companies and smallholder farmers, with growers demanding accountability, transparency, and timely payments for their produce.
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