KEY TO BIOFUEL INDUSTRY
WANDILE SIHLOBO: Sorghum sector able to aid small farmers
If the biofuel initiative is revived, there could be socioeconomic benefits for the country, writes Wandile Sihlobo
The most recent data from the National Crop Estimate Committee painted a troubling picture of the South African sorghum industry. This is a crop that was once seen as key to the development of the biofuel industry in SA and, in turn, job creation in rural areas. The data show that farmers increased the area planted to almost all grains and oilseeds with the exception of sorghum, which declined 24% year on year to 36,800ha. In fact, looking at the database dating back to 1936, in 2017, SA planted the smallest sorghum crop ever. In 2014, sorghum was one of the most promising crops in SA’s agriculture, boosted by the hope of the development of the biofuel industry, job creation and a new market for farmers, particularly black smallholder farmers. Mabele Fuels and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) were the first companies to embrace this initiative. Mabele was to build a processing plant in Bothaville, with the potential to create 16,700 jobs and a market for farmers. The IDC...
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