Shorter season on the cards for sugar industry

Sugarcane crop yields are, so far, on par with prior years and sufficient to supply local demand, industry body South Africa Cane Growers’ Association (SA Canegrowers) confirms. However, unusually dry weather over the last months in growing regions – KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga – will potentially shorten the season by up to a month, which adds another concern for an industry that has to contend with a range of concurrent challenges.