Chiredzi cane farmers want another sugar mill

George Maponga in Masvingo
Over 1200 indigenous commercial sugar cane farmers in the Lowveld have appealed to the Government to provide a guarantee for them to acquire a sugar mill to speed up the milling of their cane.
The out grower farmers account for about 40 percent of Zimbabwe’s total sugar cane production but have been facing challenges in milling their harvested crop, resulting in deterioration of quality.
The out growers from Mkwasine, Hippo Valley and Triangle estates say Tongaat Huletts Zimbabwe is taking too long to mill their crop at the firm’s two sugar mills at Hippo Valley and Triangle.
Zimbabwe Sugar Development Association chairperson, Mr Elisha Tamirepi said Government should intervene and help farmers acquire a mill to break Tongaat’s monopoly in sugar milling in the Lowveld.

He said farmers’ cane is spending several days while awaiting milling, adding that this compromises its quality. This is creating the impression that indigenous farmers are faring badly.
Commercial Sugar Cane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe chair, Retired Captain Admore Hwarare said Tongaat is shortchanging farmers by giving priority to its own cane.
Zimbabwe is this year expecting to produce around 400 000 tonnes of sugar from about 3,2 million tonnes of sugar cane that will be milled at Triangle and Hippo Valley mills.