But today it was a very full room because there were two new associations at the table to represent the farmers groups that emerged after the splintering of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. They are the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association and the Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association.

The association representatives along with BSI and government, filled the room at the SICB office in Orange Walk Town while the government appointed Chairman Gabriel Martinez sat at the head of the table with the Minister of Agriculture Gaspar Vega, and Junior Minister Hugo Pott.

In the end after about two hours of consultation, they agreed to open the season on Monday. As it turns out that is only two days later than last year's crop start - which was also delayed. The farmers hope that now they can grind the 1.3 million tonnes of cane that is out there in the fields - but that will depend on the weather. If the heavy rains come late like they did last year, they can possibly grind all the cane - but IN THAT CASE experts say the season would probably go to the end of July. If the rains come heavy in May or June as they normally do, there will be big losses for the farmers and the factory.

And more than just agreeing on a crop date, today all the parties signed statement of commitment to come up with a Strategic Development Plan for the industry in a year. This states the investment and the undertakings of all sides going forward as they prepare for changes in the global sugar industry - which will see European beet sugar competing against Belizean cane sugar in the European market.