The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is looking to set up a new sugar mill at Mkwasine Estates in Chiredzi, which is expected to benefit over 500 A2 sugarcane farmers.
At the moment, farmers in Mkwasine are having a tough time with expensive and inefficient transport, having to haul their harvested cane around 70km to the nearest mills at Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary, Addmore Pazvakavambwa, said the new mill would help bring down costs, cut down on crop spoilage, and boost earnings for local growers. Said Pazvakavambwa:
…the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has already tendered for the project.
The new sugar mill will reduce transportation costs for farmers in the Mkwasine area while also bringing much-needed competition between millers.
Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe has a big stake in the country’s sugar milling industry, running the two main mills at Triangle and Hippo Valley.
Bringing in a third mill will add competition, which could mean better prices, services, and shorter trips from the farm to the mill for growers.
Elisha Tamirepi, chair of the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Development Association, welcomed the move, saying it will help farmers save on transport costs. He said:
Even the quality of our cane will improve, as currently, the cane deteriorates while waiting to be shipped for milling.
More: NewsDay
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