National government visits drought-stricken sugarcane farmers
Small-scale cane growers are among the worst affected by the drought
IN a bid to assist the emerging sugarcane sector, whose farmers are feeling the brunt of the dry weather conditions, the national Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) recently visited affected uMfolozi farmers.
As part of the government’s National Imbizo Focus Week, DAFF Deputy Minister, General Bheki Cele, and KZN DARD MEC, Cyril Xaba, visited affected farmers and the Small-Scale Sugarcane Growers’ Association in the KwaMthethwa area of uMfolozi Local Municipality earlier this month.
uThungulu District Municipality is one of the areas most affected by the drought and these farmers have reportedly suffered a decline in harvest since 2014.
To date, DARD, in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR), has spent over R140-million on the emerging sugarcane sector.
These funds have been pivotal in the implementation of ratoon management and other agricultural aspects of the sugarcane sector.
