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Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
Sugarcane company, Tongaat Hulett, has pledged to rehabilitate all roads in Mkwasine Estate to rescue farmers facing serious challenges in transporting their produce to the mills. Tongaat Hulett stopped operations in Mkwasine in 2006 following the allocation of all sugarcane plots in the area to A2 farmers during the land reform programme. Farmers have since failed to maintain roads.

Addressing farmers at a field day held recently, Tongaat Hulett executive director of operations Mr Eden Mhere raised concern with the state of roads that have caused transport problems for farmers.

“Just as we were driving along the way, we saw huge bundles of sugar cane which I believe fell from moving tractors,” he said.

“It’s just unfair for the farmer to look after his cane for 12 months and fail to deliver it fully.

“If I just start picking up all the sugarcane which you are dropping in Mkwasine, I will deliver a relatively high tonnage than the actual farmer.”

Mr Mhere said as the largest sugar producing company, they were moving in to assist farmers repair roads in Mkwasine.

He said time was an integral component in sugarcane production as the crop was perishable.

“Our crop requires timely operations, timely harvesting, and timely delivery, among other things,” said Mr Mhere.

“With the goal to have some of these operations achieved, we will repair your roads.”

Mr Mhere said the repaired roads would ensure timely delivery of the crop and reducing friction losses.