Sugar cane season in North expected to be better, says Minister, despite poor start

By Aaron Humes: As of Monday, northern cane farmers had delivered 27 percent, or 351 thousand tons, of their cane estimate for 2020-2021.

The Sugar Cane Production Committee (SCPC) reports that 33,639 tons of sugar had been produced for a tons cane/tons sugar ratio of 10.45, higher than the ideal of 8 or 9 to 1.

A balance of 953 thousand tons remains to be delivered from the estimate 1.3 million tons available, the result of a bumper crop following drought last year.

In an exclusive interview with BBN, Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai said “from all indications, especially from field information obtained by staff at the Sugar Cane Production Committee (SCPC), this year’s crop will be a bumper crop and the production is most likely going to surpass 1.3 million tonnes of sugar.”

This is greatly needed news as the country struggles to recover from a horrific year financially in which no industry was spared. Sugar remains Belize’s greatest export and the most significant contributor to revenue.

The season began at the end of December after disruptions caused by flooding, but there was a brief break in January after the mill closed for necessary repairs, combined with the poor conditions of sugar roads and concerns over cane quality. The season is expected to end sometime in June or early July pending any further delays.

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