7 News Belize

Farmers Inch Toward A Sugar Crop
posted (December 24, 2014)

Tonight, both sides in the sugar industry standoff have inched closer to a compromise – but they have not agreed. The eighteen directors of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association met this morning in Orange Walk to consider the updated proposal from BSI. The proposal was crafted with the words of the farmers – after BSI caved in and omitted all references to the Harvest and Delivery Control Unit. So, did the Directors accept it? Well, the short version of that story is that they didn't – but it seems that they are inclined to pending a small change. They have sent back the document to their attorney for one small amendment on that same clause 2.3. It seems the most recent draft still seems to suggest that the Sugar Cane Production Committee, known as the SCPC would not have the final say on what cane gets accepted by the factory. The farmers want that to be unequivocally fair in the final agreement and so have sent it back again.

There is no confirmation tonight if an increasingly impatient BSI will find this agreeable – but from what we are told it's fairly innocuous and should not pose a problem. Of course, optimists have been saying that for two weeks, and the stalemate continues…so, the best that can be said tonight is that we must wait and see.

But, there are significant undercurrents amongst the cane farmers also at play. As we told you, four directors wrote to the Cane Farmers Association asking to go back to a general assembly. That was voted down at today's meeting – as the majority of the directors seem to be in favour of signing the agreement and getting on with the season. That, and the fact that trying to put together a general membership meeting during the Christmas break would be very difficult. Chairman of the committee of management Ezequiel Cansino explained today:…

Ezequiel Cansino - Chair, Com of Mgmt, BSCFA

"The 4 directors are not in favour of the signing of the agreement, but today, we consulted and had a discussion about that topic. And In reality, some directors put the concerns of their branches that they don't see it convenient to go to an assembly at this moment. They have many reasons and they say that we can have a meeting from cane farmer to cane farmer. We're already hearing that the cane farmers need more financial assistance from the Fair Trade funds. And sincerely, that would cause us more damage as an organisation in the Fair Trade."

And while that Fair Trade matter is pending – so is the entire cane season – and the calendar is working against them tonight. That's because it takes 190 milling days to mill the estimated 1.3 million tons of cane that's out there in the fields. That would push the end of season date to July first, which is in the heart of the rainy season –and rain greatly diminishes cane quality.

And then, subtract 15 days of stoppage for maintenance, Easter and public and bank holidays - and the end of season date would be pushed back to the third week in July. Experts say the schedule is possible but it all depends on the rains – if they are heavy, cane quality will suffer.

So, still, tonight, with the Christmas break just hours away, there is no final agreement between both sides to report – and no proposed date for the start of the sugar crop.

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