3.2 Case study of Eswatini (farm system) Flashcards
What is one of the biggest industries in Eswatini?
Sugar ( cane sugar)
What are the natural inputs for sugar in Eswatini?
Natural inputs are:
- Sugar needs a hot climate and Swaziland’s has an average monthly temperature of 29 degrees celsius in the Lower Veld.
- Eswatini has flat land suitable for large-scale mechanisation.
- Sugar needs 1800 mm of rainfall a year which Eswatini does not receive this so irrigation is needed from country’s rivers.
- The alluvial soils in the river valleys are rich in nutrients and retain moisture.
What are some human inputs for sugar in Eswatini?
The human inputs are:
Capital: to buy land, build irrigation canals, build sugar mills and buy machinery.
Labour: both skilled and unskilled are needed. The big sugar companies offer their employees education, college scholarship and free medical services along with much more.
Entry to international markets: this is provided by government trade agreements such as the Unites States Sugar program which allows the sale of sugar to the US.
What are some processes for the growth of sugar in Eswatini?
The processes are:
- irrigation: is taken from rivers by canals
- The growth of sugar crop in Eswatini takes 12 months ( a relatively short time for sugar cane)
- Ripe sugar cane is burned in the fields as it burns the leaves but the sugar inside is left unharmed.
- This sugar is then cut down and taken to sugar mills for crushing.
- The sugar cane will regenerate for several years before replanting is necessary.
What are the outputs of Eswatini sugar?
The outputs are:
There are three mills in Eswatini: Mhulme, Simunye and Ubombo. The first two are owned by the Royal Swaziland Sugar corporation.
- All three mills produce raw sugar and brown sugar.
- Mhulme and Ubombo also produce refined sugar.
- molasses is produced in all three mills. Molasses is bought for use in the production of alcohol.
- bagasse is also produced which is used as animal feed.
