Situated barely a stone’s throw from the waves of the warm Indian Ocean, Illovo Sugar’s Sezela Sugar Mill on KwaZulu- Natal’s South Coast crushes about two million tons of sugar cane annually for processing into sugar and other products.
The cane is supplied by growers at all scales of production within the mill’s supply area. As with all of South Africa’s sugar cane farmers, each Sezela mill supplier is paid on the recoverable value (RV) percentage of the cane he or she delivers to the mill.
Writing in the Shukela Plus industry magazine, Dr. Muhammad Kadwa, industrial affairs manager of the South African Cane Growers’ Association (SA Canegrowers), explains that the RV payment system incentivises growers to maximise their crops’ sucrose content and minimise its non-sucrose and fibre content to produce better-quality cane.
A crucial aspect of the best management practices required by South Africa’s sugar cane farmers to maximize the RV percentages of their crop is having enough seed cane of the best possible quality. This cane is planted to replace commercial ratoon sugar cane fields whose biomass and RV yields are no longer cost-effective.
According to the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI), planting good quality seed cane propagated from cane varieties developed by SASRI for the country’s various production environments is critical for profitable sugar cane production.
Denne historien er fra July 24, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra July 24, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
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Unlocking value through livestock exports
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An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
