Agreement signed to streamline sugar industry

Since the 1960’s sugar has been the engine driving the Belizean economy. And although today’s economic situation is far more diversified than forty years ago, sugar retains its place as the nation’s number one agricultural activity. To insure the industry’s continued viability in an era of shrinking international subsidies, government and the Cane Farmers Association have agreed on a plan of action. The seven point agreement signed Tuesday in Belmopan includes a number of measures to improve efficiency in the fields as well as some government assistance to help cane farmers through hard times.

One measure to increase productivity is the privatization of cane licenses. This will allow farmers to buy and sell licenses and is expected to result in larger, more efficient farmers buying up small licenses from holders who are farmers in name only. At the same time farmers who actually grow cane and have the ability to expand will be given provisional licenses, which can later be regularized if production is actually achieved. This will ensure that BSI receives adequate amounts of cane for making sugar as well as production of electricity in the future.

As for subsidies, cane farmers will continue to enjoy allotments of duty free diesel and regular gasoline and will be exempt from paying license fees for their cane trucks. In addition they will be able to access low interest loans through the Farmers and Small Business Bank. Support for the efforts to achieve improved productivity has been widespread among farmers as well as officials of Belize Sugar Industries Limited.