Zimbabwe has announced an ambitious new plan to double its sugar output and significantly increase its electricity generation from sugarcane, with the extra power going to the national grid, reports The Herald.
The strategy, developed after meetings with farmers and business leaders, sets a goal to increase sugar production from 400,000 metric tonnes to 800,000 metric tonnes by the year 2035. At the same time, the industry will more than double its power generation capacity, from 23.5 megawatts to 59.5 megawatts.
Last year, the country’s two main sugar companies produced 439,000 tonnes of sugar, which was more than the 350,000 tonnes consumed locally.
A senior government official, Dr. Thomas Wushe, addressed a meeting of industry representatives last week. He stated that the sugar industry is crucial to the nation’s economy and provides a living for a vast number of people.
“This industry supports over 30,000 Zimbabweans and their families, both directly and indirectly,” Dr. Wushe said. “It is a foundation for development in our rural areas and is essential for our national goal of becoming a more prosperous nation by 2030.”
He explained that the sector’s structure, which includes 1,200 local farmers who provide 43 percent of the sugarcane, helps share the benefits with communities. Currently, the industry has the equipment to produce 600,000 metric tonnes of sugar each year but is only making 400,000.
Dr. Wushe described the new plan as a necessary and bold effort to rescue and revitalize a vital industry. “This strategy is designed to unlock the full potential of every part of the sugarcane process, from farming and milling to creating energy and new export products,” he said.
A key part of the plan involves modernizing sugar mills. “We aim to transform our existing operations into advanced facilities that don’t just make sugar, but also produce bioethanol and other valuable products,” Dr. Wushe explained.
The strategy also focuses on finding new customers abroad. “We plan to break into new markets in other countries by ensuring our products are of the highest quality and meet global standards,” he said.
To achieve these goals, the plan calls for creating a better business environment and reducing production costs. The government is also updating the laws that govern the sugar industry to resolve long-standing issues between millers and farmers.
This new development strategy is expected to make the sugarcane sector a major force for rural job creation, energy production, and export growth in Zimbabwe.
