Drought will not affect sugar supplies – Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZSA)

THE drought induced by the El Nino phenomenon will not have impact on the availability of sugar on the market, the Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZSA) has said.

In a statement ZSA chairperson Mr Willard Zireva said sugar cane is a 12 month crop grown under irrigation and the sugar that is on sale was produced from the sugar cane crop harvested during the 2023 milling season.

“Due to the good rainfall received in the last agricultural season, the major dams that supply water for sugar cane irrigation in the Lowveld have sufficient water to last at least the next two seasons.”

“With the next sugar cane milling season expected to resume mid-April, the millers are currently undertaking regular, Off Crop maintenance of the sugar mills readiness for the new season crop whose harvesting is scheduled to start next mid-month. The industry has more than adequate stocks for the local markets and industrial use,” said Mr Zireva.