The problems facing sugar cane growing in Natal.

•    Competition from other sugar producing countries which leads to price fluctuations for example 1974-1975.
•    The need for having sugar processing plants on the farms to reduce on transport and cooking losses through.
•    Lack of labour especially for weeding and harvesting.
•    The problem of diseases.  The main diseases  is Ratoon stunting which inhibits the normal growth of the cane.
•    The problem of pests  like Mealbug, leafhopper and Green leaf succer.
•    The problem of soil erosion.
•    Soil exhaustion due to monoculture.
•    Takes a long gestation period of 18 months
•    Bush fires are destructive.