FARMERS and factory workers are gearing up as they put their shoulders to the wheel to achieve GuySuCo’s sugar production target, which has been set at 198,000 tonnes for 2017.Public Relations Officer Audreyanna Thomas said the target was recently set following much discussion among senior managers of the Corporation.

GuySuCo is hoping to achieve 74, 172 tonnes of sugar in the first crop and 124, 286 tonnes in the second one.

Last year, El Nino prevented the Corporation from reaching its initial targets, causing it to do a revision.

Also, during last year, there was a backlog of cane. Last December, Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, said 153,300 tonnes of canes would be carried over in 2017, the equivalent to some 11,300 tonnes of sugar.

Despite many challenges, GuySuCo surpassed its projected target of 227,443 tonnes of sugar in 2015, ending the year with some 229,215 tonnes.

During the second crop, four estates –- Skeldon, Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt – each exceeded their production target, with Skeldon Factory recording its highest output.

In a bid to maintain the consistency shown in 2015, Thomas confirmed that aside from the estates that are being diversified, some others are under maintenance and will commence operation soon, while some have already began operation.

GuySuCo is in dire need of restructuring. In order to successfully conduct operations this year, the company would need an $18B Government bailout.

The Government had poured $9B into the industry at the start of last year, but late in the year made another billion-dollar bailout when members of the National Assembly in October16 approved $2B for the cash-strapped Corporation.