South African officials to lead sugarcane grower dialogue

South African Deputy Ministers Zuko Godlimpi of Trade, Industry and Competition and Nokuzola Capa of Agriculture will lead a stakeholder dialogue with sugarcane growers in KwaZulu-Natal on September 17, 2026. The event, hosted in partnership with the South African Sugar Association, aims to discuss the implementation of the Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan to 2030.

The dialogue follows farm visits intended to assess industry realities and identify interventions for long-term sustainability and competitiveness. The Master Plan, which includes partnerships with the South African Farmers Development Association and the South African Cane Growers’ Association, is currently in its second phase. This phase focuses on shifting the sector from recovery toward sustainability through product diversification.