Struggling small sugar growers can switch to avocados or chillies
06 September 2021 - 15:30
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
However, simultaneously the sugar industry reports that small growers are going out of business. Is it not possible for small sugar growers to be helped to diversify into other high-value crops? Depending on their climate and soil type, surely avocados, granadillas, vanilla and chillies could all be viable options?
Keith Gottschalk
Claremont
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an e-mail with your comments. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Send your letter by e-mail to letters@businesslive.co.za. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: Farming options
Struggling small sugar growers can switch to avocados or chillies
You report that health professionals are lobbying to double the sugar tax, revenue government clearly needs (“Doubling sugar tax would be disastrous for embattled sector, industry body warns”, August 31).
However, simultaneously the sugar industry reports that small growers are going out of business. Is it not possible for small sugar growers to be helped to diversify into other high-value crops? Depending on their climate and soil type, surely avocados, granadillas, vanilla and chillies could all be viable options?
Keith Gottschalk
Claremont
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an e-mail with your comments. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Send your letter by e-mail to letters@businesslive.co.za. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Doubling sugar tax would be disastrous for embattled sector, industry body warns
Behind food prices
WANDILE SIHLOBO: Leaders have missed a chance to transform rural economies
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Doubling sugar tax would be disastrous for embattled sector, industry body warns
Leading scholars call for SA to double its sugar tax
Sugar industry pleads for state assistance as it counts unrest losses
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.