BY: PHESHEYA KUNENE – EDITOR
HHOHHO – A hailstorm that struck Eswatini on Monday damaged more than 400 hectares of crops, including sugarcane, compounding pressure on an industry that has already recorded an estimated E200 million revenue decline due to falling global sugar prices.
Preliminary assessments show that the hardest-hit areas are in the northern Hhohho Region, particularly Maphalaleni, Nyakatfo and Mhlangatane, where heavy rainfall, hail and strong winds left fields waterlogged and large sections of sugarcane flattened. The damage is expected to reduce yields and compromise cane quality ahead of the harvesting cycle.
The storm comes at a time when the sugar industry is already under strain. According to the Eswatini Sugarcane Growers Association, growers are contending with an 8% year-on-year drop in global sugar prices, despite relatively stable production levels. This has significantly squeezed margins in a sector where farmers are largely price takers on the international market.
A Dvokolwako-based farmer, Sibusiso Dlamini, said the impact on the ground is severe.
“More than half of my fields have been affected. Some cane is completely down, and even what remains standing may not deliver the expected quality. This translates directly into income losses,” he said.
Industry experts warn that lodged cane not only reduces yield but also lowers sucrose content, affecting mill recoveries and overall profitability. Recovery costs are also expected to rise, as damaged fields require additional labour and time to harvest.
Dr Sipho Nkambule of the Eswatini Sugarcane Growers Association previously indicated that rising input costs, particularly electricity, fuel and fertilisers, are further eroding profitability. These costs have been influenced in part by global supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in regions such as the Middle East.
Speaking on behalf of farmers, Tammy Dlamini, Chief Executive Officer of the Eswatini National Agricultural Union, said the storm has worsened an already fragile situation.
“Farmers were already dealing with high production costs and weaker prices. This kind of shock pushes many closer to financial distress. There is an urgent need for coordinated support and practical interventions,” he said.
He also extended support to the industry, adding that collaboration will be key in recovery efforts.
“We stand with the Eswatini Sugarcane Growers Association and all affected growers during this period.”
Across the region, extreme weather events continue to disrupt agriculture. Countries such as South Africa and Mozambique have also reported crop damage linked to storms and flooding in recent seasons, highlighting a broader climate risk facing Southern Africa’s agricultural systems.
Economically, the implications are significant. Sugarcane remains one of Eswatini’s key export crops and a major source of rural employment and income. Reduced output could affect both household earnings and national export revenues.
The storm has also reinforced calls for climate-smart agriculture. Experts are urging farmers to invest in resilient production systems, including improved drainage, soil management, and early warning mechanisms, as weather variability becomes more frequent.
As assessments continue, attention is now shifting to recovery strategies. However, with declining global prices, rising input costs and increasing climate shocks, the latest damage underscores the growing vulnerability of Eswatini’s sugarcane sector and the urgent need for long-term resilience planning.
