DEAR Editor,-
I agree with ‘Done and dusted’ who complained in the South Coast Herald last week, specifically, “We are so fed up with the burnt cane dust and debris that seems to have become an almost daily occurrence.”
On a large property with cars parked outside, we conservatively estimate that it costs us a minimum of R350 per week to clean the sugar cane fallout, equating to an enormous R1400 per month just to clean up someone else’s mess that is not of our making! I wonder what the collective cost is to all residents in the area who have to employ people to clean up this highly invasive debris.
I understand that burning reduces production costs, however has cognisance been taken of the cost to others who are inconvenienced?. The farmer gains, and hundreds, if not thousands of us pay the penalty.
With the majority of our furniture and curtains being white, it is impossible to stop the fallout from invading every room in the house, causing long-term damage.
Why should we be inconvenienced in this way every time sugar cane is burnt? As mentioned by “Done and dusted’, the washing is covered in it and time and time again has to be redone.
I wonder how many of the 1200 homeowners in Tweni are affected by this totally unacceptable situation? I believe that the accumulative cost to all affected in this manner outweighs the saving in production costs to the farmer. This contributes to high air pollution on a grand scale.
I have tried to find out what the protocol is with regard to the burning, but no one at the council has been able to inform me. In 2003, the International Farm Management Congress advised that the South African sugar industry burns 90 percent of the crop at harvest, while 10 percent is harvested green.
This trend has increased over the past twenty years, despite growing pressure from the public. I feel that environmental legislation should prohibit this and cane burning should be banned on farms adjacent to residential and tourist areas.
LAW
Umtentweni
