16/08/2026
South Africa's small-scale sugarcane growers are often blamed for low productivity, but a six-year study by the South African Sugarcane Research Institute tells a different story.
Working alongside the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the South African Farmers Development Association and South African Canegrowers, researchers found that growers frequently know exactly what should be done. What holds them back are the systems they're operating in: w**d pressure, weak planning support, dependence on contractors, poor access to certified seedcane, and limited technical backup.
The study also draws on international experience. In Brazil, Kenya, Mauritius and India, productivity improved most when growers received integrated support rather than one-off interventions, things like reliable extension services, timely seedcane access, and coordinated contractor and mechanisation services.
Read the full story on The Baseline for what this could mean for smallholder farming support across the country.
Full story: https://tinyurl.com/3v3f38jy
