Sugarcane farmers target 600 000t

Tawanda Mangoma in CHIREDZI
Sugarcane farmers in Chiredzi have set a target of producing more than 600 000 tonnes in the forthcoming season, while riding on an increased production levels this year. The call by Tongaat Hullet Zimbabwe (THZ) and the Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station comes after production levels have been reduced to an average of 450 000 tonnes of sugar per season.

Zimbabwe last produced 600 000 tonnes of sugar in 1999, with the low yields attributed to droughts, leading to water rationing, high cost of production and the abandoning of some sugarcane plots.

Addressing farmers at a field day held under the theme: “Addressing Yield Decline through Good Management Practices”, in Mkwasine, THZ executive director-operations, Mr Adrien Mhere said a collective effort was required from all stakeholders in the sugar industry to work towards a rise in yields.

He said Government addressed water shortages through the commissioning of the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam, which has capacity to irrigate approximately 25 000 hectares.

“We are unlocking new markets for our sugar,” said Mr Mhere. “This year we have a quota to supply 18 000 tonnes of sugar to America, while countries such as Botswana and Namibia get nearly half of their sugar from Zimbabwe.”

Mr Mhere said his company was already prepared to help all out grower farmers who needed inputs.

THZ executive director – out-grower farmers, Mr Ushe Chinhuru, said they had a target of having all individual farmers producing a minimum of 120 tonnes per hectare by 2020.

“We offer you free extension services so that you can improve your production capacity,” he said. “You contribute 34 percent of the sugarcane which we process as THZ and which is very significant.”

Mr Chinhuru said individual farmers produced 1 138 000 tonnes of sugarcane last season.

“We want that to grow,” he said. “We will continue to support you and banks are there also to help make our dream come true.”

Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station acting director Dr Audrey Mabveni said nothing woud stop out-grower farmers from harvesting more than 160 tonnes per hectare.

She said farmers should make sure they engaged their station for professional extension support.

“Some of you are producing 160 tonnes per hectare, why then are others producing 70 tonnes?” she said.

Dr Mabveni said farmers receiving information from the station were highly successful.

“Everything must be applied according to findings at the laboratory, be it fertiliser, water, it must be the same,” she said.