BSFCA says that a late start to the sugar crop is possible

When does the new crop season officially start? A date has not yet been finalised but the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association holds cautious optimism that an agreement between them and BSI/ASR can be inked before the season begins. However, there is more than just the agreement, which may delay the crop this go-around. Javier Kemé, the chairman of the association’s finance committee, says that even with an agreement, there may be a diminished milling capacity, to begin with. 

Javier Kemé, Chairman, BSCFA Finance Committee: “That is late of course. Late why ? Because the crop normally starts in December because the intention is to mill all the cane available. So it was late and it was projected that some cane would be staying on the fields even if the crop would be extended and that was the result of it. So it was late yes it was. The expectation this year is to start in December so that is why it is important to remark that there should be an agreement in place for the crop to start on time. What date in December we are not sure but it should start in December to accomodate all that cane that stayed on the field this year. The factory itself was giving problems because they brought down, and we will face the similar problem this year because one of the generators of the Belcogen plant that feeds the mill was remanufactured last year, the other one is being worked this year. So the expected time for it to start working at 100% is pretty much the same as last year. So that means we will be starting crop with only one turbine similar to last year an average of half of the milling capacity.”