M Kadwa and J Schoeman
South African Cane Growers’ Association, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa;
An increase in extreme weather events is highly correlated with climate change, which is progressing faster than ever. Unfortunately, the precise timing and severity of many such weather events and other negative phenomena in the global sugarcane sector are difficult to forecast. After such episodes, estimating the impacts swiftly can be crucial to growers financially recovering, either through their own resources or from external assistance. Through technology, it has become easier and quicker to obtain such data. This poster portrays a case study to obtain credible and verifiable data from sugarcane growers in South Africa within a relatively short time. Two flooding events (April 2022, February 2023) impacted the South African sugarcane industry. In a diverse-grower environment, South African Cane Growers’ Association, which represents the growers in the domestic industry, collected key data from affected growers in each of these events, based on an existing structure and effective communication channels. By sharing this case study experience, other sugarcane industries may benefit in reacting to damaging events.