adminUS$86 million from cane sales during the 2011/2012 season.
Tongaat Hulett Limited, which is providing technical support to indigenous sugar-cane farmers, said the surge in revenues follows the increase in production area from 9 100 hectares to 15 880 hectares.
Yields are expected to improve from about 54 tonnes of cane per hectare to at least 90 tonnes of cane per hectare.
“The revenues arising from the growth in farmer sugarcane production will increase from US$29 million to US$86 million, at current prices,” said Tongatt.
Direct beneficiaries of the project include some 872 sugar-cane farmers from the Hippo Valley, Triangle and Mkwasine mill areas.
As a result of the project, the number of people employed by the private farmers will increase from 3 600 employees to 6 300.
The Successful Rural Sugar Cane Farming Community Project has received financial support from Tongatt and BancABC Zimbabwe is set to provide funding through the establishment of a four-year revolving US$20 million financing scheme for the sugar-cane farmers.
The goal of the SusCo Project is to facilitate private farmers, with the support and expertise of Tongaat Hulett, to increase their supply of sugarcane to 1,4 million tonnes equivalent to 180 000 tonnes sugar from the current 488 000 tonnes sugarcane equivalent to 61 000 tonnes sugar.
Vice President Joice Mujuru has since encouraged indigenous farmers to embark on sugar-cane production taking advantage of the two sugar mills at Hippo Valley and Triangle Estates.
Last week the vice president toured the Lowveld sugar plantations with the Indigenous Private Sugar Cane Farmers, the governor and resident Minister of Masvingo Province, Titus Maluleke, Tongaat Hulett CEO, Mr Peter Staude.
Tongaat Zimbabwe managing director Mr Sydney Mtsambiwa, BancABC CEO, Mr Hashmon Matemera and the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Aldo Dell’Ariccia were also part if the delegation.
The EU has in the past supported sugar-cane farmers.
The delegation was also joined by the sugar-cane farmer associations leadership and approximately 1 000 members of the Chiredzi District community in the Lowveld.
Online Reporter