AS at last weekend, sugar production stands at 24, 500 tonnes and the target of 86 201 tonnes for the first crop is likely to be met.This was according to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU)’s President, Komal Chand, who welcomed the progress made to date.
During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, he stated that production has been flowing rather smoothly, mainly because of the fact that there has been no adverse weather recently. That apart, he noted that they have had no problems with the labour force thus far.
However, he added that the Skeldon Sugar Estate is not operating fully as yet, because one of the punt dumpers which was under renovation has not been completed.
“Only one of the punt dumpers is currently working and this cannot supply the factory with enough cane per hour… so only the Skeldon Estate is affected right about now,” said the GAWU President.
Furthermore, he disclosed that up to last week the Skeldon Sugar Estate did not produce any sugar, but should record some production by this weekend.
In 2014, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) recorded a production of 216,147 tonnes – the first crop having surpassed the 75,000-tonne target, bringing in about 80,000 tonnes.
The calamitous drop in sugar prices on the global and preferential markets, which challenges all sugar industries, coupled with the dramatic fall in earnings and, by extension, cash flow; and the prevailing weather conditions were among several of the difficulties that affected the local sugar industry during 2014.
The industry has seen dismal sugar production levels in the past years, but Guyana has since been taking steps to turn around its sugar industry, and hopes to soon meet a 300,000-tonne target. There is also a projection that the sector would reach a 400,000-tonne goal by 2020.
The production figure being targeted by GuySuCo for 2015 is some 240,000 tonnes.