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Mbabane - Swaziland's sugarcane farmers were handed €15m by the European Commission on Friday in a measure to cushion them from the impact of a cut in industry prices, officials said.A joint statement by the Swazi government and EC said €15m would minimise any adverse impact on the sugar sector which has been a mainstay of the economy in the landlocked southern African kingdom."This will go towards the enhancement of the profitability of smallholder sugarcane growers and will contribute to maintain the efficiency of Swaziland's sugar production," said the statement."The beneficiary farmers will also be assisted to prepare sustainable farm plans."Some 700 sugar industry workers have been laid off in recent months with producers forced to cut costs as a result of the lower prices from Europe.Swaziland's yearly sugar quota to EU markets stands at 120 000 metric tonnes.As in the days of Noah...
