Sweet harvest for sugar cane farmers in Kwa Zulu - Natal
Madlopha C
The ANC views the support system given to five community-based cooperatives that plant sugar cane in the area of Qoloqolo in the Umzumbe Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal as a good step in the right direction in terms of ensuring that their dream to expand their plantation will be fulfilled, due to financial muscle of R14 million in assistance from KZN Agriculture and Rural Development and South African Sugar Association.
The funding will see to the fencing of 70km of communal land, ratoon management across 1 207 hectares, nine land reform projects, the planting of a further 102 hectares of land and the establishment of five small-scale grower cooperatives.
The ANC views agriculture as a business and believes that with government support, the expansion and development of a progressive value chain would be ensured. And therefore is moved by the commitment by KZN Agriculture and Rural Development department further R55 million to growth this project in future. The ANC has confidence that the cooperatives will have a sweet sugar cane harvest this year; assistance to rural cooperatives for big business project should be emulated by other provinces.
