By Nomzamo Mnguni & Sompisi Ntuli
The sugar industry says it is worried about insects that often attack sugarcane in certain parts of KwaZulu-Natal. This came out of the 97th Congress of the South African Sugar Technologists Association (SASTA) which was held in the International Convention Centre in Durban this week.
They say the North Coast is particularly battling the Yellow Sugarcane Aphid (YSA), Longhorn beetle and White grub – even though those gathered in the meeting say the situation isn’t as bad as it’s been in previous years. “It’s less potent and manageable infestations that those that include those caused by Thrips and Sesamia,” said Biosecurity Scientist, Dr Iona Basdew.
There are farmers, engineers, scientists and other stakeholders from the sugar industry from all over the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the various sessions.
“Sugar sits on the resources that will be needed for a new sustainable economy,” said Liesel Kassier who is the Metair Academic Head of Sustainable Manufacturing at the Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS).
The event was held in collaboration with the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) which featured the likes of South African Sugar Association (SASA) and the Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies.
“Not only do you need to look at how do you make yourselves more sustainable, but how do you actually transition to a better resource provider for a new sustainable economy,” added Kassier.
