CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Mr. Paul Bhim disclosed, yesterday, that heavy rains have halted land preparations across the industry.According to him, other current efforts include, factory maintenance, cleaning of canals and fertilising and chemical weed control.
Bhim said milling is expected to start early next month on some estates, while other factories will begin operations in the third week of February.
“We are not working (grinding) now, so the turnout is not very good,” he explained, referring to the number of employees at work.
Bhim explained that, currently, during the off-grinding period, three of the estates have their entire workforce on one week leave, while, at the remaining four, only part of their employees are off the job.
Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, factory attendance yesterday was 78 percent, with the average for the week, to date, being 76 percent.
Sugar production came in at a dismal 186,500 tonnes for 2013 and the 2014 target has been set at 230,000 tonnes.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told the Guyana Chronicle that the new target is possible and emphasised that GuySuCo needs a good year to support the turnaround of the sector.