Land-reform programme deliversMay 27, 2006

By Sarah-Leigh Paul, Creamer Media's Engineering News Online, South African Industry May 27, 2006

On April 1 of this year, the seven growers, who were chosen from over a thousand applications, began farming.

The growers, made up of two women and five men, were selected based on their good record of sugar-cane production. The farm manager worked for two weeks prior to the take-over with the growers to prepare them.

“Tsb Sugar the miller for the sugar cane that comes from the farm and thus it is important for it to support the farmers so that sustainable sugar cane of a high quality is produced,” Khoza notes.

Tsb Sugar, in conjunction with Absa, is financing the growers.

Each grower has a separate financing agreement with Absa and Tsb Sugar. The farm is registered as Siyathuthuka Sugar Estate and is fully owned by the growers.

Each grower’s shares are associated with the portion of the farm which he or she owns.

These shares give each grower the sole right to use specific areas on which to conduct his or her sugar-cane farming activities. Tsb Sugar is providing extension services to the growers through the Growers Affairs Department, which works very closely with the South African Sugarcane Research Institute.

These services are free and include information and help with agronomy and general farming practices; irrigation; preventive maintenance of drip systems; irrigation scheduling; financial management; and running of a company.

Tsb Sugar is also providing an irrigation infrastructure maintenance service, where it will pay for the transport and salaries of the technicians, while the growers cover the costs of the materials.

The growers are solely responsible for their farming operations.

“Tsb Sugar and other role players will offer extension services, advice, mentoring and guidance, but the ultimate decision-maker is the grower,” concludes Khoza.