Rain taking toll on first crop-GuySuCo

The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) said its first crop is being severely affected by the inclement weather.

The First Crop 2017 commenced during the week ending February 18, 2017, at Uitvlugt and Blairmont Estates. These estates are currently in their second week of the crop and have recorded a total of 74 mm and 78.8 mm of rainfall to date respectively, GuySuCo said in a statement.

According to the corporation the Albion Estate on the other hand, which is currently in its first week of the crop, is facing a similar challenge. This estate has recorded 55.8 mm of rainfall for the week as at February 24, 2017. Further, with 42.6 mm of rainfall recorded at Rose Hall Estate, the field and factory operations have since been delayed. The estate was scheduled to commence cane harvesting on Wednesday February 22, 2017, and factory operation on Saturday February 25, 2017.

GuySuCo has two crop seasons, the First Crop is usually from Mid-February to May and the Second Crop should be August to Mid-December annually, however, over the past decade the pattern of rainfall has been erratic and has disrupted production at critical periods – at the beginning and various other points during both crop periods.

The Corporation’s sugar production target for the First Crop 2017 is 74,172 tonnes, however, with Skeldon Estate not having a First Crop due to the co-generation plant being unsafe to operate as was advised by Skeldon Energy Inc. (SEI), the Corporation will not be benefitting from the budgeted 8,871 tonnes that the estate was expected to contribute to the overall production target.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.