IN a historic move, South African sugar industry has witnessed a transformative shift towards inclusivity, granting small-scale sugarcane farmers a permanent voice and place within the sector.

Trade, industry and competition minister Ebrahim Patel handed over a signed government gazette that legally gives small-scale sugarcane farmers recognition at the offices of the South African Sugar Association in Mount Edgecomb, Durban.

According to minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development Thoko Didiza, stakeholders noticed a missing link aimed at growing the sugar industry when they crafted the Sugar Master Plan.

“Today we looked at how far we have travelled and different successes and challenges. We also noticed that having gone this far with phase one, what should phase two look like, and how can we collectively move ahead as an industry,” she explained.

“We are now appreciating the important role that has been made legally in making sure that we have a unified industry that recognises that we have the smaller player in production. We wanted to recognise that the department of trade industry and competition, in terms of its powers of legislation, has sealed this partnership that has happened over the years,” said Didiza.

According to Patel, the sugar industry was in a state of urgency and stakeholders wanted to involve small-scale farmers, and the South African Farmers Development Association (Safda) was an important part of developing the master plan.

“With commercial farmers and millers, we have developed a plan to help save the sugarcane industry. The plan requires that everyone contributes, we needed everyone to be involved in the development of the plan.

“Small-scale sugar farmers are benefitting at a greater scale than before and a sum of money is made available to support small-scale farmers. The money amounts to about R 2 million,” he said.

Meanwhile, Siyabonga Madlala, chief executive officer of Safda, hailed the two ministers for getting small-scale sugarcane farmers to this point.

He said they have seen how the department of agriculture has intervened in times when the fuel and fertiliser prices tripled.

“This current administration has proven that they have the best interests of the small-scale black sugarcane farmers [at heart]. When doors were shut for us, the previous portfolio committee was able to open those doors for us.

“We have had nine years to struggle to be accepted like other sugarcane farmers, we are now successful and are equal with other farmers,” he said.

He added that he and his team have received support from the growers and although this milestone is worth celebrating, it is also a call to work even harder.