SMALL-SCALE GROWER SEEDCANE PLAN A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

Colleen Dardagan

The green hills of northern KwaZulu-Natal might be rich in history but for those who make their living on slices of land carved out of the region’s fertile soils, it’s the future health of South Africa’s sugar industry that will determine their future now.

Above, from left: Bakitha Maseko and SA Canegrowers Agricultural Business Advisor, Sam Khanyile inspect the grower’s impressive plot of seedcane which was grown with funding from SA Canegrowers under the auspices of the association’s “true transformation” initiatives.

As the afternoon sun casts a golden glow over the peaceful valleys of Gingindlovu in northern KwaZulu-Natal, a jigsaw of farm plots planted to sugarcane are clear evidence of how important growing the sweet crop is to thousands of rural people who depend on subsistence farming for a living.

Small-scale grower Bakitha Maseko says the sale of his crop each year to the nearby Amatikulu sugar mill is the difference between making a decent living or just scraping by.

The 75-year-old says he has seen many changes since he took up the reins on his farm following the death of his mother, Grace, when he was just 18. “I was born here. My family have lived on this land for generations. We have seen many challenges and changes over the years,” he adds.

And the planting and development of a 1ha seedcane plot on his land in 2022 was a change that he welcomed, he added. “My neighbours are interested in buying seed from me now and I aim to plant up at least another hectare for myself,” Maseko said.

He expects a yield of at least 70 tons-a-hectare of which most will be sold for planting at about R500-a-ton. Any excess will be sent to the Amatikulu mill for processing and should fetch a similar price.

Vision 2023

South Africa’s sugar industry under the leadership of SA Canegrowers recognised that while the country’s commercial growers supplied the lion’s share of the sugarcane crop to the country’s 12 mills, it was the almost 20 000 small-scale growers who were the beating heart of the sector. These growers are in the most rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga where employment is scarce and sustainable solutions for income-generation are absolutely critical for the future wellbeing of these communities.

As a result, and together with the support and know-how of its grower members SA Canegrowers launched its Vision 2023 some five years ago.

The aim of the strategy was to improve the quality of seedcane available to the industry’s small-scale growers and with that improve the quality of the harvest supplied to the mills by this important sector of the industry. This they believed, would boost the income of thousands of rural households across the country’s sugarcane growing region.

At the same time the improved quality of supply would vastly improve production efficiencies at the mills and boost the quality of sugar supplied to international and domestic buyers. 

In 2019 and with R596 000 in funding from Coca Cola’s Mintirho Foundation 16ha of certified seedcane were planted up in individual plots by SA Canegrowers in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

In 2020 the seedcane delivered on its potential with 1 256 tons harvested and sold at discounted prices to small-scale growers for planting. 

A further 104ha of cane were planted up by these growers and 17ha of seedcane plots were added to the programme. 

In 2021, the 33ha combined yielded 1 343 tons of high-quality seed which went towards the development of a further 112ha. During 2022 ownership of the seedcane plots was transferred to each small-scale grower upon whose land the seed was planted and grown.

Spin-offs

Further spin-offs included lower-priced transport costs as the plots were positioned within easy reach of the communities involved. Training and support offered by SA Canegrowers’ regional staff has seen substantive growth in knowledge and intellectual capital which has translated into improved soil husbandry and agricultural practices in alignment with the SA Canegrowers’ strategy for a more environmentally viable industry.

Dr Thomas Funke, CEO at SA Canegrowers described the seedcane programme as an unmitigated success. “Not only have we seen a marked improvement in the quality of the cane delivered to the mills from the area where these plots were planted up, but those growers who have benefitted from the project have received intensive training in sugarcane production. This training, which is actively driven by our field staff, includes improved soil husbandry, the effective management and application of herbicides and pesticides and sound harvesting methodologies. Our staff have also been integrally involved in stabilising contractor agreements and pricing,” he said.

SA Canegrowers’ Agricultural Business Advisor in the region, Sam Khanyile said the quality and success of Maseko’s seedcane plot epitomised the value of the Vision 2023 programme.

“This one hectare of seed represents food on the table for some, a better education for others and perhaps the next small step for a young farmer who dreams of becoming a commercial grower one day.

It represents an industry that is committed to the sustainability of a broad community of people. It is critical that the Vision 2023 programme continues to roll out beyond this year to continue to secure the economic survival of so many rural people,” Khanyile said.