CHAPTER 3. BACKGROUND TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUGAR INDUSTRY AND
3.2 Study Area Description
In this study the relative profitability of sugarcane cultivars, including a GM cultivar, are compared for farms in predominantly rain-fed, sugarcane growing regions of KwaZulu-Natal, i.e., the regions where eldana and creeping grasses are currently most problematic. The eldana population tends
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to increase with increasing average temperatures and humid areas such as the North Coast (Rutherford, 2015). Nonetheless, eldana has severely affected some inland regions, such as Eston, where its population is positively correlated to the occurrence of drought. Many farmers have adopted Pest Management Control practices to reduce populations of eldana on their farms (Nicholson et al, 2017), and regional chemical control of eldana was conducted as an attempt to address the rapid spread of eldana in 2016 (Botha, March 2018, Pers.com). This research is conducted on the North Coast, iLembe district of KwaZulu-Natal. Farmers who supply to the Gledhow Mill, which is situated Latitude: -29o21’21.96; Longitude: 31o17’36.96, are studied.
Common creeping grasses in the Gledhow cane supply areas are Cynodon dactylon and Cynodon plectostachyus (SACGA, 2018). Even though various weed management practices have been employed, the weeds are still prevalent in the sugarcane fields (Landrey et al, 1993). Commercial farmers eradicate this weed by cover spray, using the Glyphosate chemical, “Round-up” before they plant. However, the waiting period of four months before they can re-plant sugarcane delays their production (Naude, March 2018, Pers.Com), and hence reduces returns to sugarcane farming.
The sugarcane production cycle differs between coastal and hinterland regions.
Farmers’ preference for various sugarcane cultivars in the Gledhow cane supply area is investigated using two representative farm models: one for the coastal regions and one for more relatively inland regions of the coastal belt (hereafter referred to as the hinterland). The two sub- regions differ significantly by climate. Because the optimal cultivar of sugarcane is partly determined by soil, topography and micro-climate, for each representative farm the arable area suitable for sugarcane production was categorised into three of four ‘land categories’. Table 3.1.
presents a summary of the land resources for the two representative farms.
Historically, farmers in the region adopted relatively early maturing sugarcane cultivars in response to the increasing prevalence of eldana in the region, reducing the production cycle from 18-20 months to 12-14 months. More recently the availability of chemical control regimes to combat eldana has led to an increasing proportion of sugarcane in the region being produced on an 18-20 month cycle (Nicholson et al, 2017).
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Table 3.1 The arable land resources of the representative farms in the Gledhow cane supply area
Coastal farms Hinterland farms
Sandy Soils
Proportion of arable Land 35% 10%
Cane production cycle 13 -16 months 14-20 months
Commonly produced cane cultivars N41, N51, N52, N55, N58
N16, N31, N39, N41, N52, N54
Opportunity cost of producing sugarcane
Macadamia nuts Macadamia nuts
Loamy Soils
Proportion of arable Land 35% 90%
Cane production cycle 14-18 months 14-20 months
Commonly produced cane cultivars N41, N51, N52, N55, N58, N59
N31, N41, N52, N54, N59 Opportunity cost of producing
sugarcane
Macadamia nuts/
Bananas
Bananas
Clay
Proportion of arable Land 30%
Cane production cycle 14-18 months
Commonly produced cane cultivars N41, N48, N51, N54, N58, N59, N60
Opportunity cost of producing
sugarcane
Macadamia nuts/
Bananas
Source: (Adapted from Naude, 2018, Pers.com, March 2018).
3.2.1 The Opportunity Cost of Land
In addition to sugarcane, common opportunity costs (the next best alternative use) of land among farmers are macadamia nuts and bananas; other less common land uses are litchis and game ranching (Table 3.1). Farmers have stated that although the softer fruits like bananas and litchis may be profitable, they are generally not preferred to sugarcane partly due to risks of crop loss due to monkeys and birds, which tend to be a problem in the area, especially in the coastal area.
Macadamia nuts are a high risk, high return crop. Many farmers perceive macadamias to be a good option to diversify their enterprises, but tend to plant less than 20% of their land to macadamia nuts. Once the macadamia nuts are established, the returns improve the liquidity of the farm
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business, which often enables improved management practices in sugarcane (Naude, 2018, Pers.com, March 2018), increasing yields and the profitability of the sugarcane enterprise.
3.2.2 Topography and Soil Types
One of the major benefits for sugarcane production in the North Coast is the excellent soils. The North coast has a variety of soil types, namely, the sandy beach soils which are highly acidic (mainly in the coastal areas), red loamy Hutton soils which are a mixture of sandy soils and clay (rich in iron-oxide), these soils have good water retention and are well drained. The third soil type is the dark Nomanci clay. Application of lime and gypsum at planting in this area can be as high as 25 tons/ha to address the high acidity depending on the area and the soil type (Naude, 2018, Pers.com, March 2018). According to Naude (2018, Pers. com. March 2018) some farmers add lime to a zero percent soil acidity (as opposed to the 20% that is recommended by SASRI guidelines) in order to reduce the susceptibility of the crop to eldana and to achieve higher yields.
Land categories vary from flat land compartments to more steep compartments with approximately 30-40 degree slopes. The flatter compartment is best suited for sugarcane production. While some farmers may produce sugarcane on the steeper soils, they are more suitable for orchard plantations as the soil is shallow and relatively more susceptible to being eroded. Because of this, some of the steeper, sandy soils land compartments are left idle.