Sugar production has dipped 12% according to the financial results of one of the country’s largest sugar plants, Hippo Valley, The Herald reports.
According to the publication:
According to the firm’s quarterly trading update, sugar produced during the nine months ended December 31, last year amounted to 211 267 tonnes, which was 12 percent below the 238 965 tonnes produced during the same period in the prior year.
The decline came as cane harvested from both the company and private farmers went down. Cane harvested from the company farms went down 5 percent to 1 010 571 tonnes from comparable prior year figures of 1 068 164 tonnes.
In a statement accompanying the financial results, the company said they were facing logistical challenges in the supply of imported critical inputs, spares and services. They also said demand for sugar had dipped as well.
More: The Herald