Zambia Sugar Plc has kicked off the 2017 crop season with optimism of a good harvest in view of a favourable rainfall pattern. This is a critical period for the business because the cane that has been growing steadily in the last season is now ready for harvesting and crushing. Aphids attack sugar cane while the beetles burrow themselves in the cane, which dries the crop.The irrigation was affected by power outages as sugar cane needs 2,000 millilitres to grow.