Agriculture C.E.O. on Impasse within Sugar Belt

A new agreement has still not been made between the larger sugar cane farmer association, B.S.C.F.A. and the millers, A.S.R./B.S.I.  According to a clause within the standing contract that is soon coming to an end, either party can request renegotiation of a new agreement. The millers are saying there is no need for any negotiation since the three other associations in the north have signed off on the agreement as is. But the B.S.C.F.A., which represents about sixty percent of the sugar cane producers are not budging. With the start of the 2021 crop season soon to begin, we asked Agriculture C.E.O. Servulo Baeza if G.O.B. is going to get involved.

Servulo Baeza

Servulo Baeza, C.E.O., Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise

“We have been discussing with the farmers and listening to their concerns and what are the areas that they want to look at. ASR has written to us, sorry written to the association, saying we don’t think it is an appropriate time right now and there are certain things that they don’t want to look at again, but there are certain things that they want to add. So obviously, if there are things that they want to add and the farmers want to negotiate, then that should happen. So we in terms of the ministry is in support that they should sit down around the table. In any type of negotiation, I don’t think any party should come out totally on top; there has to be some room for compromise and there must be some understanding. I understand ASR, they are looking at huge investments, they have their money at stake. But then the farmers also have huge investments too. We are talking about the livelihood of over five thousand families. So I believe and I am sure that the minister supports that at some point, they will have to sit down.”