Estimates of sugar damage rise

Preliminary estimates of damage to the sugar industry have been revised upward. The Ministry of Agriculture, following surveys by the Sugar Board, reports that losses are in the vicinity of thirty-three million dollars. Fourteen thousand acres of cane are said to be flooded, ten thousand in Orange Walk and four thousand in the Corozal District. It is believed that the cane will be totally destroyed if the flooding does not recede in three to four weeks. If this happens, damage estimates will rise further to thirty-seven million plus an additional twelve million to rework and replant the fields. Low interest loans will be made available through the DFC to enable farmers to rehabilitate their lands. The Agriculture Ministry has also announced that a separate DFC facility of one million dollars has been created for small farmers not involved in the sugar industry. Applicants are advised that they must be bona fide farmers who suffered hurricane related losses and are in need of rehabilitation assistance.