JOHANNESBURG - The South African sugar industry is facing a double whammy -- cheap imports and a lack of staff for this year’s harvest.
South Africa's sugar industry is calling for urgent government intervention as cheap imports continue to place pressure on local producers.
READ: SA to revisit declining sugar price after cheap imports surge
The South African Canegrowers Association says subsidised sugar from countries including Eswatini, Brazil, India and Thailand is undercutting local production, making it difficult for farmers to compete.
The industry is also facing a labour shortage ahead of this year's harvest, with an estimated 30 percent shortfall in cane cutters.
Growers say many foreign seasonal workers have left South Africa, prompting calls for a special dispensation to allow workers from neighbouring countries to assist during the harvest season.