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The
Viability of the Sugar Industry [S.C 15, 2006]
Fourth Report
of the Portfolio Committee on Lands, Land Reform, Agriculture, Resettlement
and Water Development
First
Session – Sixth Parliament, Parliament of Zimbabwe
Presented
to Parliament on June 06, 2006
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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
The
Committee received evidence from four different types of sugarcane
growers namely Estates, old commercial farmers, new commercial farmers
and the Chipiwa and Mpapa Settler Farmers.
There was consensus
among all stakeholders in the sugar industry that since 2001 there
has been reduction in the production of sugar as a result of land
reform and that there was need to raise the production to its normal
level. They appealed to government to finalize the land reform programme
and to fully support new farmers in the industry by allocating funds
in the national budget for the sugarcane crop.
Farmers appealed
to the government to speed up the processing of the 99 year lease
agreements. This would enable them to borrow loans from financial
institutions. There is concern over the issue of land sizes for
planting sugarcane. Most holders of 20 hectares and below are considered
not viable for sugarcane production. The A2 farmers expressed great
dissatisfaction over the Cane Purchasing Agreements which they consider
unfair. Farmers were not satisfied with the price charged by millers
for their cane. They appealed to the government to intervene in
the operations of the millers. They also recommended that government
must break the monopoly of existing millers in the sugar industry
by bringing more players. They also complained that transport costs
have become very expensive to the extent that transporters are now
in business than growers.
A2 farmers applauded
Parliament for passing amendment no. 17 of the Constitution. They
said it came as a blessing to them and an end to their problems.
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