By Cedric Johnson, Freelance WriterWITH LESS cane that the projected amount going into the Frome Sugar Estate, in Westmoreland, the factory has been forced to cut its projected target for the current crop from 64,000 tonnes to just under 59,000.
However, the estate's management said it was not alarmed by the situation as new measures were being devised to step up production to approximately 80,000 tonnes for the 2006-2007 crop.
"We are exploring all the avenues by which we will be in a position to significantly increase our production," Aston Smith, acting operations manager, told The Gleaner.
"We have been looking at the possibility of securing technical assistance from various sources. All the players in the industry must play an important role in this drive," he said.
In giving a progress report on the current sugar crop, which is now approaching the half-way stage, Mr. Smith said 45 per cent of the projected target had been met. He said he was quite pleased with the way the factory was performing at this time.
"I am happy at the way the factory is performing," Mr. Smith said, seemingly quite pleased with the current state of affair. "Up to Sunday last, we produced 26,821 tonnes or 87 per cent of the budget for that day."
However, earlier this week, the West End Cane Farmers' Association expressed doubt that the revised production target for this crop would be realised.
According to Astill Sangster, the chairman of the association, factors such as shortage and poor quality could work against the estate meeting the revised figured. "We will be lucky if we get past the 50,000-tonne mark," said Mr. Sangster, who also hinted that inefficient harvesting system and the low price farmers were being paid for their produce could also prove to be a factor. "We believe the shortage and poor quality of the canes reaching the factory will prevent the factory from meeting any target above the 50,000-tonne mark." However, in downplaying Mr. Sangster's concern, Mr. Smith said he was quite confident that the new target would be met. According to him, the cane being supplied to the factory was in excellent condition and cane coming in was now in keeping with the factory's projection.
