- New sugar cane varieties of up to 200 tonnes per hectare yield
- Amplified disease control measures, leveraging drone technology and aerial spraying
- Improved yield and quality to solidify market leadership, counter cheap imports, and expand export footprint
Harare- Zimbabwe's sugar giant, Hippo Valley Estates, is gearing up to introduce advanced technologies and high-yielding sugar cane varieties, poised to transform the industry through improved cane quality.
In October 2023, the Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experimental Station (ZSAES) released eight new sugarcane varieties: ZN11, ZN12, ZN13, ZN14, ZN15, ZN16, ZN17, and ZN18.
These varieties were an addition to the original 14 varieties already in the market. Consequently, Zimbabwe then had a total of 22 released sugarcane varieties.
Hippo Valley Estates Limited, the country's largest sugar producer and marketer with over 50% of market share, has unveiled plans to introduce cutting-edge sugar varieties from South African Sugar Research Institute (SASRI).
Hippo Valley Estates' new sugar cane varieties are expected to yield up to 200 tonnes per hectare. This strategic upgrade acknowledges the limitations of traditional varieties, which have outlived their usefulness in today's competitive market.
By embracing innovation, the company will stay ahead of the curve, expand its market share, and solidify its leadership in Zimbabwe's sugar industry.
These new varieties are renowned for their high sugar content and disease resistance, expected to significantly enhance cane quality, sugar extraction levels, and overall productivity.
“We have started on an aggressive replough exercise to ensure that we introduce new varieties from SASRI South fric that has better cane quality, better sugar and better extraction levels,” Tendai Masawi, the company’s chief executive officer said in an interview.
“This will also ensure that we improve the performance from the cane that is coming from the fields and the million itself that we are doing.”
This strategic move will be vital in countering the threat of cheap imported sugars as higher yield potential can be leveraged to match poor quality sugar imports.
The introduction of disease-resistant varieties will minimize the financial burden of pest management, allowing the company to allocate resources more efficiently.
Masawi also said they are amplifying disease control measures, leveraging drone technology and aerial spraying to combat yellow sugar aphids.
This innovative approach ensures targeted and efficient pest management, reducing the risk of infestation and subsequent damage to cane quality.
As a result, the company will compete more effectively in its exports markets including South Africa, Madagascar, Kenya, Botswana Masawi noted, "By improving our yield and quality, we can maintain our market share and protect our revenue streams."
The key benefits of this initiative include enhanced cane quality and sugar extraction levels, increased disease resistance, improved productivity and efficiency, boosted competitiveness against imported sugars, and expected growth in revenue and profitability.
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