7 News Belize

Sugar Season Starts In Earnest
posted (January 24, 2014)
Today, after almost 3 months of delays the 2013-2014 sugar crop season finally began. Estimates are that over 10 million dollars in production has been lost, and some 16 million dollars more in sugar cane stands to be wasted at the end of this season.

So, with that grim bottom line in mind, the cane farmers were more than willing to start the deliveries today, and 7News went north to see the season start. Daniel Ortiz reports:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Today, the Tower Hill Sugar Factory opened up their gates to accept the first cane deliveries for the 2013-2014 milling seasons.

Because of the rains, the bad condition of the sugar roads, and primarily bagasse impasse, this day, which should have happened back in the middle of November, finally arrived.

We found the farmers eager to move their product in, time is against them and millions of dollars in crop is at risk of being wasted.

Alfredo Ortega - Vice-Chair, BSFCA's CoM
"The new crop of 2013/2014 in which the Corozal division is delivering during the day period starting with the San Narciso branch which is the number one for this year in the Corozal division. Myself, we are very proud of the quality of cane that be being brought to the factory today."

Ramon Aban - Chairman, BSCFA San Joaquin Branch
"We know that we have one million, two hundred plus tons, but the amount that the company is that they could grind 946 thousand tons. If you check the one million two hundred and only 946 they will grind - you know what will happen in the last day of the crop."

There was a fear that the rains would affect the quality cane, but the experts are satisfied with what is being delivered today.

Jose Novelo - Chairman, Sugar Cane Production Committee
"I am impressed with the quality of the cane that is coming from the cane fields. The cane as you can obviously see it's very clean despite the fact that it has been raining. To me it's a demonstration that the farmers are conscious about quality that they want to maintain a good quality program and that is very good for the industry. It speaks very well for the farmers."

The initial target for this season was 1.2 million tonnes of sugar produced. Some in the industry are hopeful that it is still possible to meet them, while others are accepting reality that there will be cane wasted.

Jose Novelo - Chairman, Sugar Cane Production Committee
"I would want to think that if the mill can grind more than 7,500 tons a day and if the farmers are able to meet those daily quotas that we will surpass the one million, so I am optimistic that we will be able to do atleast a million."

Javier Blanco - Chemist Representing Cane Farmers
"In terms of what our targets are I believe that our initial target will not be met because we are projecting that between 10%-12% of the crop is going to be staying in the field."

Today's delivery was controlled, and the farmers set a target of 5,000 tonnes of cane to be brought in to the mill for grinding today. If they want to catch up in that loss of productivity, they will step up those daily deliveries to 7,500 tonnes.

The cane roads continue to be an issue, and we'll have some commentary on that later on in the news.

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