High cost of inputs crippling sugar industry
SIHHOYE - The Smallholder Sugar cane Grower (SSG) sector contributes 25 per cent to the sugar industry and is currently embattled by the high cost of farming inputs.
7his was outlined by the 66* grow ers¶ representative *eorge 'lamini on )riday during the 66* entrepreneurs award competition in 0angweni.
'lamini said the past two years had been financially challenging for small scale growers as they witness the hike in chemicals and fertilisers, which were imperative for their growth.
He said the ever rising cost to pro cure the products affected their per formance in the industry as a maMority were not able to afford.
³:hen you go to the shops to buy these chemicals, you come back emp ty handed or with fewer items as the cost of purchase is constantly on the rise,´ he added.
Chemicals
'lamini also mentioned that the processing plant in 8bombo 6ugar has assisted the small scale crane growers by providing a discount when purchas ing fertilisers and other chemicals.
He said this move by 8bombo 6ugar contributed to the increase in perfor mance by the farmers in the current reporting period.
Eswatini 6ugar &ane *rowers $s sociation &hief E[ecutive 2fficer &E2 'r 6ipho 1kambule said cane growers farming input to the economy was about E1.5 billion in the financial year ended 0arch .
He said small scale cane growers contributed about E million to the
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economy of the country.
He added that the high cost of elec tricity was a contributing factor to the performance of the industry and urged
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