(HERALD) Venture into sugarcane production, farmers urged

Venture into sugarcane production, farmers urged
Monday, 07 November 2011 00:00
Masvingo Bureau

Vice President Joice Mujuru has challenged communal farmers in and around Chiredzi to venture into commercial sugarcane production. She said the farmers should utilise two sugarcane mills at Hippo Valley and Triangle estates that are operating below capacity due to depressed cane supplies.

Thousands of these farmers, she said, could transform their lives by taking advantage of the mills owned by Tongaat Hullet. The mills are producing nearly 400 000 tonnes of sugar out of their installed milling capacity of 600 000 tonnes per annum.

Speaking after touring the Joice Mujuru irrigation scheme in Chiredzi, VP Mujuru urged communal farmers to take advantage of the sugar mills.

"I would want to urge people in this area to seriously consider sugarcane production.
"Commercial sugarcane production will change people's lives as there are many Zimbabweans earning money out of sugarcane production."

She was however, unhappy that more than 1 000 new sugarcane farmers at Mkwasine, Hippo Valley and Triangle Estates were not from Chiredzi district. She said Government, the provincial leadership and sugar companies would engage the local leadership on ways local people could benefit from the projects. VP Mujuru also toured the Joice Mujuru Crocodile Farm which has more than 200 crocodiles.

She said Government would assist the crocodile farmers with access to markets for their crocodile products.

"I want to emphasise that it is very important for communities to realise that they should not wait for the Government to initiate development for them."

She said the communities should be at the forefront of development and production.
"Communities should work for Government not for Government to work for them.

"Once there is production in communities the sources for taxes by Government increases and that engenders development and prosperity," she said.

Besides crocodile farming, villagers at Joice Mujuru Irrigation Scheme are also involved in crop production.