The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) yesterday reported that various estates have produced some 10, 300 tonnes of sugar at the conclusion of the production week ending September 4.

The Corporation has for the past three weeks recorded production levels above 10,000 tonnes, bringing production for this crop close to 65,000 tonnes.

According to a source, workers at the Rose Hall Estate have qualified for another two dayxs pay as production incentive for the achievement of 1,772 tonnes of sugar last week.

But the source pointed out that the Enmore Estate was the only Demerara estate that surpassed the weekxs target. 

xWorkers of Albion and Blairmont estate also earned one dayxs pay each as production incentives,x the source disclosed.

The steady performance of the industry since the beginning of the second crop is encouraging, as it strives to maximise exports of the commodity to Europe before the sugar protocol ends at month end.

The contact noted that the number five boiler of the Uitvlugt Estate factory last week malfunctioned and this affected the locationxs ability to contribute to production for six days. 

Apart from grinding, there are intensified efforts at land expansion and rehabilitation for increased cane production. 

Particularly at Skeldon, the source said, where some 1.2 million tonnes of cane is targeted to meet the full supply capacity of the new state-of-the-art factory.

GuySuCo is currently recruiting contractors to help accelerate the tillage programme.

The Company has also commenced preparatory work for land development to expand sugar cane cultivation at the Blairmont Estate. 

The Corporation recently acquired some 2185 acres of leased land from the government for this purpose.

The current crop is expected to produce much more than the targeted 160,000 tonnes.

Rain had caused a delay in the commencement of grinding, but GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Errol Hanoman is optimistic that this setback would not have any major impact on production.

GuySuCo had reported that heavy rainfall between January and March had resulted in a production shortfall of 6,000 tonnes for the first crop this year.

But Hanoman said although the 6,000 tonnes less meant GuySuCo was only able to produce 83,000 tonnes in the first crop, there is strong optimism that the steady efforts of his management team will lead to higher productivity in the months ahead.

Last year, the high level of rainfall affected worker turnout, caused damage to crops and, along with strikes, affected the completion of the field programme, resulting in an annual production of 226,268 tonnes, in comparison to the 226,482 tonnes produced the previous year.