DESPITE its challenges, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has produced 30, 905 tonnes of sugar, so far, for this year.

According to GuySuCo’s Public Relations Officer, Audreyanna Thomas, production is nearing its first crop target of 33, 863 tonnes of sugar.

A breakdown of the production showed that the Albion estate produced 15,462 tonnes of sugar out of its target of 18,511 tonnes. Over at the Blairmont estate production stood at 8,879 tonnes of sugar, surpassing the target of 7,955 tonnes.

The Uitvlugt estate was also able to surpass its production target of 6, 564 tonnes by producing 7,397 tonnes of sugar. As the first crop slowly grinds to close, GuySuCo will be eyeing its second crop target of 73,160 tonnes of sugar.

The estates are expected to produce optimally as staff attendance continues to be above average at the three estates. At Albion, GuySuCo recorded a 63 per cent turnout while at Blairmont there was a 62 per cent turnout and at Uitvlugt there was a 66 per cent turnout.

The government had expended $9B at the start of 2016 on the sugar industry, but later made another billion-dollar bailout, with members of the National Assembly in October 2016 approving $2B for the cash-strapped corporation.