Small-scale sugar-cane farmers get a boost

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is set to bring about increased profitability for small and emerging sugar-cane farmers in the province. Through a donation of fertiliser and lime the department aims to enhance yields, these farmers an income boost.

Agriculture MEC Super

Zuma visited Simondi, Mkhambathini, to hand over 900 bags of fertiliser and almost 2 000 bags of lime to improve soil quality in the areas. The intervention comes in response to a challenge faced by farmers, high acid levels in the soil. This issue has been contributing to lower yields among sugar-cane farmers, prompting the department’s efforts to address and mitigate the impact on agricultural productivity.

The department’s aim is to boost production for sugar-cane farmers by providing essential inputs such as fertiliser, lime and other necessary agri-chemicals that will enhance soil fertility, address the challenge of high acid levels, and ultimately contribute to a significant increase in crop yields.

Bongani Mchunu, chairperson of the Simondi Farming Primary Co-operative, employing 50 individuals, expressed gratitude to the department. He acknowledged its role in supporting the agriculture sector, as well as the individual farmers contributing to the industry. Mchunu said his last formal employment was in 1980, and since then, he had sustained himself through the profits generated from sugar-cane farming. He likened sugar cane to the province’s “gold”.

“With our hard work, supported by the department, we have been able to build homes, we have sent our children to school, and they have gone to universities and now we are trying to bring them closer to the sugar cane business,” said Mchunu.

Speaking at the event, Zuma expressed his admiration for the high quality of sugar cane produced by the Simondi farmers. However, he emphasised that what made him particularly proud was the employment opportunities created by these farmers.

The fertiliser and lime provided by the department would help farmers increase productivity and ensure higher profits. “We are proud of the work we see, and we will continue to work with these farmers. We need to move them from their current level of emerging farmers to a higher level of commercial farming.” –

KZNDARD KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Super Zuma (left) with Bongani Mchunu, chairperson of the Simonti Farming Primary Co-operative.