SUGAR production in the second crop stands at over 121,000 tonnes putting the year’s production past 171,000 tonnes, with another three to four weeks before grinding ends.

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told the Guyana Chronicle that as good as the second crop is, it will not be able to compensate for the shortened first crop, as previously expected.
“The revised target for the first crop was 71,000 tonnes, but we ended up with 48,000 tonnes because we shortened the grinding season because of the weather, which also prevented the early start of the second crop,” he said.
The weather, Ramsammy stressed, continues to present a challenge to the sugar sector.
He acknowledged the criticisms proffered over the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), but pointed out that the major challenges being presented have to also be considered.
“For November, already we have had 13 rain days in the sugar belt,” Ramsamm y disclosedd.
He added that for the sector to perform at maximum, the sector has to work out how to deal with the weather.
“There are a lot of challenges facing sugar around the world. It is a complex issue. Each time critics raise their points, they must consider the whole picture. The points raised may be relevant, but the weather, a major factor, is not being considered,” Ramsammy said.
He made it clear that while the other points of criticisms are modifiable, weather patterns are not modifiable in the short-term.
“We have to accept this as a baseline consideration, this is the weather we are operating with, and have to plan our operations according to. This is an adjustment we have to make,” the minister said.
He explained that Guyana used to have two wet and two dry seasons of a particular length, very regular and now Guyana does not have that. Sugar requires a period of 14 to 20 weeks of completely dry weather during grinding.
Ramsammy stressed that despite the challenges, the performance the second crop shows that the organisation has the capacity to do well.
Asked about the target this year, Ramsammy stated that while the adjusted target was 238,000 tonnes, from the onset this was something he was not sure the sector could meet, and currently the ministry is looking at what numbers the sector will see come year end.

(By Vanessa Narine)