Challenges faced by small scale sugarcane farmers in KZN

Description

From 2014 to 2019, South Africa’s sugar cane productivity rose by 0.8% year on year on average (Sikuka and Geller, 2019). South Africa is consistently ranking in the top 15 out of approximately 120 sugar producing countries worldwide with 18,514,559.18 Metric Tons (Nation Master, 2021). The South African sugar industry is considered by the South African Sugar Association (SASA) as one of the world’s leading cost competitive producers of high quality sugar and contributes significantly to the national economy, sustainable development and creates mass employment in rural areas (SASA, 2021). According to SASA (2009), around 2% of the South African population are dependent on the sugarcane industry for a living. However, there are numerous challenges faced by the sugar industry in the province. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine various challenges faced by sugarcane farmers. Data was collected from 83 Small-Scale Sugarcane Growers (SSGs) in eight KZN districts, using survey questionnaire. Out of 91 respondents or SSGs, only 8 did not consent to participate in the study. Most of the SSGs were male. The findings of this study indicated that SSGs face numerous challenges ranging from inequality; land issues; financial problems; drought; access to market; productivity; lack of high performing varieties; transport issues; climate change; and alien invasive plants or weeds. Business need capital or financial assistance to expand their operations, thus increasing market share. It is therefore not surprising that most of the SSGs need financial support (83) to expand their operations. In addition to financial support, they desperately need partnerships or shareholding; marketing skills; education/farming skills; skilled workforce; feasibility/ business plan; access to markets; and transport and logistic.