Story by Gay Matambo
SUGARCANE outgrowers in Chiredzi are taking advantage of the current wet spell to increase production.
The farmers met recently to deliberate on issues affecting production which include water conveyance, inputs and electricity supply and they agreed on the need for a collective approach to boost productivity.
“Our main challenge in our industry is the issue of water. We have water challenges and this has affected us a lot. We hope that this year in 2025 the situation will improve,” said one outgrower.
“We used to depend a lot on Tongaat, but this year they didn’t manage to give us enough inputs though they do not give us for free, we pay for them, but the inputs were not there,” said another.
“We hope the government will support us in terms of inputs and electricity provision since sugarcane is a strategic crop,” added another.
Zimbabwe Sugar Development Association chairperson, Mr Elisha Tamirepi stressed the need for sugarcane outgrowers to acquire a mill to break the monopoly in the Lowveld.
“In 2025 we have a vision of having a new dam called Mukazi constructed in Mkwasine. Also not forgetting the issue of acquiring a new mill in Mkwasine because our farmers are experiencing high costs and transport challenges when ferrying their cane to Mkwasine,” he said.
Sugarcane outgrowers traditionally enjoy a harvest of 70 tonnes per hectare, but output declined to 62 tonnes per hectare last year due to the El Nino-induced drought and other capacity challenges.
