Savings for BSI, Savings for Farmers, says Minister of Agriculture

Last week, we reported on A.S.R./B.S.I.’s multi-million dollar investment at Big Creek Port. The company’s improved raw sugar and molasses logistics at the port is expected to create savings for both A.S.R./B.S.I. and sugar cane farmers in the north. When we caught up with the Minister of Agriculture Abelardo Mai in Belmopan today, he explained that A.S.R.’s investment, and the savings it will bring to farmers, comes as a relief.

Abelardo Mai

Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture

“One of the biggest challenges that cane farmers face is the high cost of producing sugar cane, the high cost of transportation, the high cost in general. You will understand by now that farmers do pay a part of the cost that BSI incurs, local handling and ocean freight. Farmers do absurd a portion of that cost. So, when you accelerate the time of loading from what was fifteen, twenty days to three days, then that is supposed to be a monumental savings in terms of cost. That then trickles down to the farmer. So, whenever BSI saves a dollar the farmer is saving a portion of it and that is very important. You will recall that sugar was moved before by barge all the way down the river into the bay and into the sea. Loading was done there by a crane. That now is all in the past. BSI now transports their sugar by road all the way to Big Creek, and then the loading, filling of the ship is very fast. So, whenever they save a dollar the farmers are happy because it will trickle down to them.”