2IO SUGAR PRODUCTION IN MOZAMKIOUE. 



Limited), have already planted considerable areas with Yuba 

 cane, on their concession of 300 square miles, extending from 

 Moamba to the Umbeluzi. Later on, the output from this estate 

 should be a very large one, as all the operations are on a very 

 extensive scale. 



Lastly, the survey has just been completed of a large area 

 amounting to something like 30,0CX) hectares, extending from 

 the Maputo at Salamanga to the Portuguese border. It will be 

 developed into a large sugar estate by a Xatal company. 



In estimating the possibilities of the industry in the Pro- 

 vince, it should always be borne in mind that there the growth of 

 cane per acre, and the sugar content, are l)oth considerably 

 greater than in Natal, where the average yield of cane is about 

 30 tons per acre every two years. 



At Inhambane, on the other hand, where Inhambane green 

 is principally grown, the average, in 1910, was 40^ tons per acre, 

 10 tons 7 kilos of cane producing i ton of sugar, which is 

 e(|uivalent to 4 tons of sugar per acre, the cost of growing and 

 manufacturing a ton being from £5 los. to £6. 



At Inhanguvo, on the Buzi, 698.22 acres yielded 38.6 tons 

 of Yuba cane and 2.83 tons of sugar per acre, being at the rate 

 oi 1 ton of sugar from 10.3 tons of cane. Two fields which were 

 cultivated between the rows yielded : ( i ) 60.9 tons of cane and 

 4.46 tons of sugar per acre; and (2) 70.8 tons of cane and 

 5.1 tons of sugar per acre, showing strikingly what can be 

 effected l)y adopting a higher standard of cultivation. 



On the Zambesi, one variety, 109 D, gave, from 400 acres, 

 an average of 75 tons per acre. Put the average throughout the 

 Zambesi area is probabh' not more than 35 tons of cane and 

 2.S tons of sugar per acre, the cost per ton being between £8 and 

 £9 at the factory. 



At present the licences for the distillation of spirit from 

 molasses are practically prohibitive. ( )n only one estate, at 

 Inhamcurra, is it done, the lessees distilling for the Companhia 

 do Porror, who have a monopoly of its sale in the district. At 

 all other estates, except Axilla Pontes, where the molasses are 

 mixed with the megass for fusel, it is wasted. 



Besides the above, there is a strong movement aiuong the 

 agriculturists of Chai-Chai, who are growing sugar-cane in 

 much abundance. These agriculturists have found that it is 

 impossible, with their limited capital to erect the necessary ex- 

 pensive plant for sugar mills. The municipality have taken the 

 matter up, and advised a scheme on similar lines to what has 

 been done in Zululand, whereby the farmers can bring their 

 sugar-cane to a central mill, receiving at once a fixed sum per 

 ton, and If the crop has been gathered, the sugar disposed of to 

 receive pro rata according to agreement the balance of profit. The 

 municipality has applied to the Provincial Government for power 

 to raise a loan ou the rates of Chai-Chai, for the purpose of 

 erecting a central sugar mill, to treat the sugar-cane from these 



