Zim has adequate sugar stocks to meet demand: ZAS

Source: NewsDay Zimbabwe

THE Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZAS) says there will be adequate sugar supply for household and industrial consumption this year despite the current El Niño phenomenon which has affected agricultural production in the country.

The El Niño weather phenomenon has caused drought and heatwaves, affecting water supply for domestic, animal and industrial use and hitting farming output for rain-fed agriculture.

But in a statement, ZAS chairperson Willard Zireva said the industry was adequately stocked to meet national demand.

"The ZSA wishes to advise stakeholders and the general public that there will be adequate sugar supply for both household and industrial consumption despite the current El Niño-induced drought that the country has experienced which has affected the harvest expected from the other agricultural crops," the statement reads in part.

"As sugar cane is a 12-month crop grown under irrigation in Zimbabwe, the sugar that is currently on sale was produced from the sugar cane crop harvested during the last milling season which ended in December 2023.

"Due to the good rainfall received in the last agricultural season, the major dams that supply water for sugar cane irrigation in the Lowveld have sufficient water to last at least the next two seasons."

With the next sugar cane milling season expected to resume mid-April, the millers are currently undertaking regular, off crop maintenance of the sugar mills in readiness for the new season crop whose harvesting is scheduled to start mid next month, Zireva said.

"The industry has more than adequate stocks for the local market's domestic and industrial use," he said.