ESA applauded for growers competition
MBABANE – The Eswatini Sugar Association (ESA) has been commended for hosting the annual Smallholder Sugarcane Growers (SSG) competition.
Sugar cane growers attended the award ceremony in numbers.
Sponsors also exhibited their products and services at the colourful event, which was punctuated with lively cultural entertainment.
Hhohho Regional Administrator Princess Tsandzile said the competition developed smallholder sugar cane growers.
Encouraged
She thanked ESA for the competition, which she said encouraged the growers to produce high yields of cane.
Growers’ representative George Dlamini said past competitions had never been so well organised like this year’s.
One of the cane growers accepting his award from Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza (L) Acting Eswatini Sugar Association CEO (2nd R) Banele Nyamane and Eswatini Cane Growers Association CEO, Dr Sipho Nkambule (R).
He attributed the cane growers’ overall existence and success to ESA’s efforts and support.
“We owe our existence as small cane growers to the sugar association management and staff who continually give us great support. They visit and advise us on what to do in order
to produce quality sugar cane,” he said.
Eswatini Cane Growers Association (ECGA) Chief Executive Officer Dr Sipho Nkambule congratulated the winning growers and advised them to share knowledge with those who had not won so they could do better next time.
Two farmers accepting their certificates from the Minister of Agriculture and Dr Nkambule (2nd R).
Sponsors’ representative and here to witness growers receive Standard Bank Chief Executive awards and we expect other Mvuselelo Fakudze said the winners even next year,” he sponsorships were to encourage said. growers to work hard and Fakudze mentioned that increase their cane yield. banks were willing to continue
“When farmers continue to rendering financial support put more effort, the sponsorship to the growers. amounts will also increase. ESA Acting Chief Executive That is our role today. We are Officer (CEO) Banele
Nyamane thanked the organisers of the event and all those who contributed towards its success.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Sydney Simelane described the event as huge, adding that such activities supported government’s mandate to provide food security.
“The sugar industry is one of the major contributors to the country’s economy,” he said.
Purpose
Minister of Agriculture, Jabulani Mabuza, said the purpose of the competition was to encourage high productivity of sugar cane, sound governance and efficiencies among growers. He noted that the smallholder sugar cane sector had grown over the years and currently contributed 25 percent of the total sugar cane production.
“This is expected to rise further with the new entrants of growers coming through the development of the Lusip II project,” he said.
The competition began in 1994 with only 13 sugar cane growers and this year 442 participated.
THE SPONSORS:
Standard Bank
Times of Eswatini
ESWADE
NEDBANK
Ubombo Sugar
Eswatini Railways
Liberty Life
RES Corporation
Mlobi Investments
Swaziland Agricultural Supplies FINCORP
ESRIC
EswatiniBank
FNB
Buy Cash Hardware
Swaziland Building Society Brisan Pumps