Operation Sakhinzuzo, a R74-million six-year development programme funded by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) and agribusiness Tongaat Hulett, has, after five years, delivered benefits for 287 small-scale sugarcane growers on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.
It has resulted in 3 000 ha of freehold and communal land coming under sugarcane production to bolster economic activity in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
Tongaat joined EDTEA as a partner to provide both technical and financial support. EDTEA contributed R51.8-million and Tongaat R22.2-million.
Operation Sakhinzuzo has assisted individual small-scale growers, freehold growers and newly-formed cooperatives in rural communities and has capitalised on economies of scale. Individual growers now own between 5 ha and 30 ha of land under sugarcane each.
Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Ravi Pillay this week welcomed the progress, saying Operation Sakhinzuzo was an opportunity to fuel growth and the sustainability of sugarcane growers.
“The project has enabled all parties to create 2 470 seasonal jobs; promote education and training of 74 local youth and community members; and has enabled other small businesses associated with the sugar industry to expand and remain sustainable amid the pandemic,” he said.
A secondary objective of the programme has been poverty alleviation and the creation of job opportunities, such as cutting sugarcane, management of harvested fields and transportation of cane to the mill.
The programme has had a positive spin-off on livelihoods in the local community. The health facilities and roads infrastructure have been improved and crime has been reduced in the targeted mill areas, Tongaat noted.
Operation Sakhinzuzo is said to have helped small-scale businesses evolve into medium-scale enterprises and has provided employment to those living in four Tongaat milling areas – Maidstone, Darnall, Amatikulu and Felixton.
At the start of each planting season, approved growers are expected to contribute labour; EDTEA fertiliser, lime and chemicals for weed control; and Tongaat the seed cane. Tongaat also provides training and mentorship support to the cooperative beneficiaries.
The project has successfully created seasonal jobs and paid over R25-million in the form of wages in the targeted mill areas.
A total of 169 500 t of sugarcane have been delivered over the period of five years by the respective growers. The small-scale growers in communal areas delivered 47% of the total sugarcane tonnage followed by the freehold growers and the cooperatives at 37% and 16%, respectively.
To date, R117-million of revenue has been generated by the 287 participating growers.
A further R13-million has been paid to the growers as part of the sugar industry Transformation Intervention programme.