The South African sugar industry relies for a significant part of its production on a large number of small-scale growers. Placed today in a context of liberalism and international competitiveness it needs to improve the efficiency of this group of farmers. In that respect the management of the cane harvest and supply to the mill represents a key-issue regarding both the reduction of bum to crush delays, the regularity of deliveries and the reduction of production costs. A study conducted in 1998 in two sub-committees supplying the Amatikulu mill analyses the impacts of the decisions made both by small-scale contractors, sub-committees and small-scale growers in terms of harvest management. It highlights the irregularity of small-scale contractors' performances and the low profitability of their business. It also stresses the difficulties encountered by the sub-committees in co-ordinating the relationship between contractors and growers. Some kinds of improvement are proposed with regard to both the management of contractors' business and the role of the subcommittees.