Sugar cane growers are pleading with consumers, businesses and retailers to ‘choose locally produced sugar over imported sugar’.

The SA Canegrowers Association has launched a ‘Save our Sugar‘ campaign, calling on the public to pledge their support to local cane growers and the one million livelihoods they support, Zululand Observer reports.

The association, which represents hundreds of sugar cane growers, including those in the Zululand region, says for every tonne of sugar imported, South African growers lose R7 600 in revenue.

“In June and July this year, 90 000 tonnes of sugar were imported, leading to a loss of R684m for the South African sugar industry.

“This means that the over 24 000 small-scale and 1 200 large-scale local growers have less to invest in their operations, pay wages, and to support their local rural communities,” said Higgins Mdluli, chairman of SA Canegrowers.

“Sugar cane is an economic lifeline for South Africa’s rural communities in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, and imported sugar puts the livelihoods of thousands of South Africans at risk.”

Mdluli urged consumers to ‘take a moment to look carefully at the sugar they buy at their local store’.

“If it says ‘produced’ or ‘grown’ in South Africa – you will be supporting local growers,” he said.

To pledge your support for South Africa’s sugar cane growers, visit: https://saveoursugar.org.za/

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