El Niño 2026/27 Sugarcane Industry Preparedness Outlook

The Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station has released a critical advisory document, the "El Niño 2026/27: Zimbabwe Sugarcane Industry Preparedness Outlook". With a strong El Niño developing, the local sugarcane industry faces a high risk of a hotter, water-constrained, and highly variable 2026/27 season.

Because the risk to the industry is sufficiently high, stakeholders are encouraged to start preparing immediately. This document outlines essential strategies for mitigating risks, highlighting water security as the first line of defence. It also details what El Niño means for the sugarcane crop itself, including the impacts of heat, prolonged dry spells, heavy storms, and shifting pest and disease pressures.

Growers, millers, and water catchment institutions must plan together to address these compounding risks. Please download the full document below for detailed decision-making guides and water planning scenarios.

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