SUGAR TOUR Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Dept. of Agriculture Radio Forum were given an in-depth tour of the sugar industry in the province this week. Our host was Ntathu Dlamini from SASA (South African Sugar Association) who left no stone unturned as to how sugar is produced. Day one started at SASA committee room with a presentation by their communications and public relations dept, which included a 25 min. video show. We then drove to the Dalton area to see the Gqugquma project. This is a pilot where a commercial farmer acts as a mentor to about eight small cane growers farming on tribal land. The farmer gave them a loan of R135 000 as a kick start. After one year they were able to pay him back, meet all their running costs and make a profit of R25 000. This was followed by an intensive tour of Noodsberg Sugar Mill. Day two took us to the Shukela Training Centre. This is where artisans are trained in various trades for the industry. The high level of training offered can even be seen in the cleanliness of the work place. Everything is spick and span. The tour would not have been complete without a visit to the Sugar Terminal at Maydon Wharf. Here storage and despatch of bulk raw sugar is handled from three bulk silos with a combined capacity of 525 000 tons. The KwaZulu-Natal Dept. of Agriculture Radio Forum meets four times a year and is comprised of one regional and four community radio stations together with the extension officers of the department. The forum is headed by the Agricultural Support Directorate in Hilton. SASA has become a valuable member of the forum. Photos: Peter Rice go to: top of page back to: home page