SA Canegrowers have pioneered transformation
sugar-cane farmers have not been heard, Madlala forgets that the democratic structures set up by SA Canegrowers in 1990/1991 were in line with international norms. These structures provided for the voice of large-scale and small-scale farmers to be represented equally on both local and industry structures.
There is no doubt that the current economic climate in the sugar industry is dire. The cane price that growers receive has decreased dramatically during the 2017/18 season, largely due to an increasing sugar cane crop, falling world market sugar price, poor performing sugar sales and the flooding of more than 500 000 tons of sugar imports into the Southern African Customs Union market.
Yet, even in these tough economic times, the industry has ensured that small-scale growers receive a total of R54.3m in the form of a supplementary payment.
It is unfortunate and yet true that there has been a massive decline in small-scale grower numbers, with less growers delivering cane to mills, largely driven by the poor economic situation in the industry, the consolidation of 1-hectare plots into commercial-size co-operatives and projects and the development taking place in periurban areas.
Small-scale sugar cane farming on the north coast/Zululand area of KwaZuluNatal has been through three long drought years with an increase in pests and diseases in the form of the Eldana Saccharina stem borer, and all these factors together with poor sugar cane economics have resulted in small scale sugar farmers searching for alternative economic activities. To this end a large diversification workshop was hosted by SA Canegrowers in 2017. More needs to be done to arrest this trend like continuing investments by the industry that have already begun to reap rewards. Shouting and performing won’t help.
So, on behalf of black small-scale and land-reform sugar cane farmers, I stand up to say no, not in my name. Madlala’s Mary Poppins charade may work in some quarters, but – like every movie – the credits will roll, reality will sink in and then the facts will stand for themselves.