Multifunctional Role of Sugar in ACP Countries

....................................................................................................................................................

The ACP sugar industries are often located in Small Island Developing Countries (SIDS) which have particular needs for their overall sustainable development. The SIDS face particular problems arising from smallness, remoteness, geographical dispersion, vulnerability to natural disasters, land loss and erosion due to climate changes and the rising sea level, and a highly limited internal market. In international trade, SIDS require treatment comparable to that currently envisaged for least developed countries to counter the threat of marginalization in world trade; the international system has gone some way towards recognizing this, but much remains to be done. The Sugar Protocol is therefore of particular socio-economic importance to the SIDS, especially so considering the multifunctional role of sugar.

Commitment Three from the Rome Declaration on World Food Security: World Food Summit Plan of Action:

"We will pursue participatory and sustainable food, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development policies and practices in high and low potential areas, which are essential to adequate and reliable food supplies at the household, national, regional and global levels, and combat pests, drought and desertification, considering the multifunctional character of agriculture."

Practical examples of such "multifunctional" agricultural activities are found in the ACP sugar industries.

Wide and transparent distribution of sugar income

All ACP sugar producing countries a high proportion of sugar revenue which directly benefits the industry's employees and permeates - "irrigates" - the whole economy, thus contributing to rural stability. The miller/grower split of sugar revenue is democratically decided - and hotly contested - in ACP states. In particular, cane growers and their families are motivated to exercise their democratic rights because they feel empowered by their successful economic activities, and they therefore participate readily and actively in national, regional and in sugar politics.

Energy

Sugar cane not only provides food but also energy. When cane is crushed and the juice separated for crystallization, the remaining dry matter - called bagasse - is burnt to provide energy for the mill and electricity for the national grid. During the cane crushing season, this process avoids the need to use fossil fuels to generate electricity and therefore avoids the emission of greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide.

Multiplier effect

In addition to the direct employment of some 300,000 people in sixteen developing countries, the ACP industries also provide indirect employment opportunities for many times that number. It has been estimated that, if one includes those employed in ancillary and support industries and their dependants, there are as many as three million people in the ACP countries who derive part or all of their income from the sugar industries.

Rural development

The ACP sugar industries are major assets in the promotion of rural development and local democracy. Sugar industries naturally promote other activities (agricultural, horticultural or other), and they provide infrastructure in rural areas, recreational facilities and much needed services in remote areas (for example mechanics, shopkeepers, taxi drivers, agri-chemical workers and many others). Moreover, sugar industries promote rural development in ways which naturally respond to local priorities. In particular, ACP sugar industries prevent rural exodus: the location of sugar mills - industrial plant - in rural areas helps to ensure an economic balance is achieved between town and country.

Environment

Sugar cane agriculture that uses, for example, cane trash for mulching, ratoon cropping, and terracing, is environmentally friendly - this issue is of major concern to ACP sugar industries. The by-products from the processing of cane are used extensively, for example, after the sugary juice has been crushed from the cane, the remaining bagasse is used for co-generation of power, with any surplus being sold as electricity to the national grid. The sugar cane industry thus helps to reverse global warming because it consumes atmospheric carbon dioxide, whilst the sale of surplus power reduces consumption of fossil fuels.

Diversification

The ACP sugar industries actively promote activities complementary to cane production, such as fruit and vegetable growing and animal husbandry, mainly on marginal lands.

Training and manpower development

The ACP sugar industries finance and administrate training centres and support groups for cane growers, apprentices, engineers and managers.

Health and safety

The health and safety of workers engaged in producing sugar is of paramount importance to the financial well-being of the industries themselves. In addition, in ACP countries, the sugar industries are usually responsible for the provision of primary health care services and the organisation of training sessions both at local and national level. In Guyana, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, for example, the sugar industries are responsible for the provision of practically all local education, health (including hospital care and public health programmes), housing, recreation and community services.