Information gathering linked to the sugar industry’s large-scale grower cost and labour productivity survey is now underway for the 2023/24 financial year, according to SA Canegrowers’ Economic Research Manager, Richard Nicholson.
Nicholson is urging growers to complete the survey which is considered critical for the continued assessment of the industry’s global and regional economic health.
The surveys are available on the following links:
https://sacanegrowers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2023_24-Cost-Survey-Form.xlsx
https://sacanegrowers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2023_24-Cane-Productivity-Survey-Form.xlsx
SA Canegrowers has undertaken the surveys each year since 1933 and the information gathered in the exercise is considered vital to the furtherment of the sector in the global and regional context.
Nicholson stressed that a high survey response rate was necessary if his department was to generate trustworthy results. “These surveys are important tools for collecting credible information that counts heavily in the efforts to improve the economic position of our growers.”
He said growers could request their bookkeeper or accountant to send the required information to SA Canegrowers or for those using their own bookkeeping package, a detailed report of the profit and loss or income statement ending at the 2024 financial year, was sufficient.
New design
The department has also designed new forms to firstly, differentiate the two surveys (Cost: Yellow and Labour: Blue) and secondly, to make them easier to complete.
“The form can be filled in manually or on the Excel version which automatically tallies the totals. Growers must please be aware though that there are options to show multiple farms separately as well as incorporate them into one entity,” he said.
Trial balances were also accepted if growers were not expecting a significant difference from the final year end results. “We also encourage growers to participate even if they have other business entities. We will analyse these businesses separately and make sure only true cane costs and income are reflected,” he added.
Respondents will also receive a detailed cost comparison report and labour productivity reports, which show individual farm performance relative to a cross-section of the data for other growers in the same mill area. The cost comparison report may be used to track a farm’s relative performance and to identify its strengths and weaknesses.
Nicholson stressed that all information was kept strictly confidential.
The deadline for the completed surveys is February 28, 2025.
Contact
Growers who may have difficulty meeting this deadline must please contact the SA Canegrowers’ Economic Research Department to make alternative arrangements.
Nicholson said he wanted to thank growers in advance for participating in the study.
For further information contact Minette Landman on email er@sacanegrowers.co.za