2023 Sugar Crop Off to Another Rocky Start
There was a buzz of activity in the sugar belt this morning where stakeholders across the industry met in various pockets to discuss the fickle state of affairs at the start of the new sugar crop. At ten a.m., the horn sounded at Tower Hill where only a few cane trucks lined up to deliver the first harvest of the season. Elsewhere in Orange Walk Town, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association held a protest through the principal streets. In Yo Creek Village, Prime Minister John Briceño, Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai and Minister of State Oscar Mira, who sits on the ministerial subcommittee, met to discuss a possible solution to the impasse between the B.S.C.F.A. and B.S.I. It was a full morning of activities in the north and we begin this evening’s newscast with coverage from the start of the crop earlier today. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with our first story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
A blaring horn at ten o’clock this morning, marked the beginning of the 2023/24 sugar crop. At Tower Hill, a short column of cane trucks entered the compound and proceeded in queue to be checked in. It’s a far cry from the long, meandering lines that many in the sugar belt are used to at the start of the harvest. Despite the poor turnout, for BSI, it is a necessary start for an already-delayed season.
Shawn Chavarria
Shawn Chavarria, Director of Finance, B.S.I.
“Starting late December is not good, it puts us out of cycle with our sugarcane. We ideally want to finish the crop by late May or early June to avoid going deep into the rainy season and, therefore, starting early December is really important. But, you know, we’re pleased that we’re here today to get the crop going. We have the three other associations who have two thousand farmers that are ready to deliver cane, and so we are happy to make a start and we hope that the BSCFA farmers can show up, or alternatively, we reach an agreement with the BSCFA.”
On the other hand, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association is not budging. In fact, BSCFA holds steadfast to its position that a one-year commercial agreement is all it is prepared to enter into with the miller.
Alfredo Ortega
Alfredo Ortega, Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association
“Our move, where we are at this point in time is that we are calling on BSI because every time we have been calling on them to come to the table and negotiate the response from them is what I throw on the table or nothing. That’s not a way of negotiation. We want something that will give at least a benefit to our farmers based on their sacrifices that they are doing.”
Those calls having gone unanswered, the largest of the cane farmers associations has opted not to deliver sugarcane to the mill. Its absence from the queue at Tower Hill was quite evident. Nonetheless, the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association brought in a few of its trucks and was present at the sound of the horn.
Vladimir Puck
Vladimir Puck, Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association
“We are very glad, first of all that that little sound that you guys heard a while ago, that’s the signal to start delivering cane. It’s more than a year that we have heard it, but we are very positive this year to start the crop. On behalf of the CSCPA, I can clearly state that my cane farmers are ready to start to bring in their trucks. At the moment, they are loading. Some of them have a little late start but let’s hope the weather holds up and they manage to load.”
As it stands, however, the BSCFA essentially controls fifty percent of the industry. So what are the likely effects of its absence on the production of sugar?
Shawn Chavarria
“The mill has, along with the power plant, two boilers and two turbines. So if we don’t get the cane from the BSCFA it means we only operate with one boiler and one turbine. So we’ll be milling at fifty percent capacity. It’s not ideal, but at least we get the crop going and get the cane in because we do need to start producing sugar. We do have contractual commitments that we need to meet and therefore something is better than nothing, in our view.”
Coinciding with the start of the annual crop is a protest organized by the BSCFA. This morning, while a few trucks lined up to deliver cane at the mill, the membership of the association took to the streets of Orange Walk to voice its displeasure with BSI.
Elvis Reyes
Elvis Reyes, Chairman, B.S.C.F.A.
“We are protesting because we want a fair commercial agreement for all of our farmers. We don’t want BSI to continue taking advantage of our farmers. They are proposing one year delivery for individual farmers, so we want an agreement signed to the whole association so all farmers from BSCFA can sign and can deliver cane as a whole.”
Isani Cayetano
“Do you believe, nonetheless, that the action being taken here is effective, in terms of either sending a message or for them to be able to come to the table and negotiate with you guys?”
Elvis Reyes
“It is surely effective because we can see the delivery today is not all the farmers that are there delivering. BSCFA is not delivering, plus we have farmers from other associations that are supporting us in not delivering, plus we have the unions joined with us and all the people of Belize.”
Out of an abundance of caution, there was heavy police presence near Tower Hill this morning, likewise during the protest in Orange Walk Town.
Shawn Chavarria
“We’re pleased to see today that there’s security out here. I think if you go around the highways, you will see checkpoints at different locations on the Philip Goldson Highway which is really good. I think that’s a signal to farmers that the government will do its part to ensure that the rule of law is upheld and that they can deliver their cane without any interruption or disruption. So that’s a very good sign. From our end, we’re here, we’re ready, our boilers are lit, we’re getting our turbine online. We have trucks here at the queue already, we’ll start receiving it shortly and once we’ve accumulated sufficient amount of cane then we will commence the milling.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five
