No respite for cane farmers

The worst drought in 100 years still has its grip on the North Coast and the sugarcane industry is suffering more than initially anticipated.

In January, the South African Cane Growers’ Association North Coast regional manager, Brendon Nothard, said good rainfall in February and March, before winter, would be the best case scenario and would see farmers recovered from the effects of the current drought by the 2017/18 season.

The rainfall statistics for the period July 2014 to March 2015 are shocking and consistently about 40 percent below the average long term mean.

Nothard said the rain forecast looks bleak, with El Nino expected to stick around at least until next spring. He said cane growers were also still waiting for the drought relief payout from government.

“I hope the forecasts are wrong. This year is definitely not better than last year and it is not a case of if it is going to be bad but of how bad it will be,” said Nothard.

During a green drought, it rains just enough to keep leaves green but the soil, rivers and dams remain dry and growth of certain crops are impeded.

Sugarcane grows to a much lower height and is thinner than normal and has a reduced capacity to store sugar.

This leads to huge financial losses for farmers, seasonal workers, sugar mills and related industries.

Farmers still have the same area of sugarcane to harvest but because the cane’s growth has been stunted , they produce less tonnage.

They may also decide to increase their carry-over cane.

The Coastal Farmers Co-operative’s Umhlali branch assistant manager, Nad Naicker, said they are definitely feeling the pinch of the drought.

“Farmers are spending about half of what they are supposed to,” said Naicker.

He said this was going to be a short season because the mills opened late and might close early, having a further crippling effect on business.

“Farmers are cutting back wherever they can. Obviously it is not the best thing to do because it will have a negative effect on the next crop, but some farmers simply do not have a choice,” said Smith.

Nothard said there was light at the end of the tunnel because as a rule, two years of drought is usually followed by a bumper crop in year three.