Belize: Prime Minister of Belize has notified his government that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise revise crop production estimates.
This meeting was conducted by the “The Sugar industry control board.”(SCIB) holds this special meeting recently.
According to the Ministry, the meeting was held due to the concerns that more than 2,700 cane farmers.
Approximately 50% of existing cane farmers, would negatively be impacted by previous productions estimates, resulting in significant losses to tonnage of cane delivered to the factory.
Cane Farmer’s had raised concerns about this issue and had indicated they were not willing to start the crop season with the estimates as previously presented, and would hold protests make their concerns heard. As a result, the gathering was called as the fulfilment of the government of Belize’s promise to listen and work closely with Farmer’s to ensure the productive sector is assisted as much as possible.
The meeting was attended by six of the 11 directors of the SICB, consulting a quorum for the meeting. However, it is noted that neither ASR-BSI nor the progressive sugar cane producer’s Association or the Corozal Sugar Cane Producer’s Association sent representation to the meeting.
The motion to discuss and review the production estimates was tabled and passed, and as a result, the chairman of the sugar industry control Board, Mr Marcos Osorio has instructed the manager of the Sugar Cane Production committee to implement the adjustments agreed on during the meeting.
The adjustments to production estimates approved at the meeting ensure that cane Farmer’s will not be impacted as negatively as before with the same losses in tonnage of cane delivered to the factory.
The SICB chairman has also mandated that the date for the start of the grinding season be gazetted, as per the Sugar Cane Act.
All stakeholders would now receive production estimates and implement adjustment it is hoped this sugar cane crop has a smooth start for the 2020-2021 season.
