Dalton Laing, Gleaner Writer
Astil Sangster (centre), president of West End Cane farmers Association, makes a point to Agriculture and Land Minister Roger Clarke (right) after a church service at the St. Patrick's Methodist Church in Truro, Westmoreland, to mark the opening of Sugar Week. Aston Smith, operations manager at Frome Division of the Sugar Company of Jamaica, looks on. - DALTON LAING PHOTO
DESPITE THE adverse circumstances facing the local sugar industry, the island possesses the capability to remain competitive in this industry.
That's the view offered by Livingstone Morrison, chief executive officer of the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ). Mr. Morrison was speaking yesterday at the St. Patrick's Methodist Church in Truro, Westmoreland, at the launch of Sugar Week. He pointed out that for the areas that need attention there is the machinery in place to address these necessities.
The way forward for the industry, he said, must involve:
Irrigation, particularly on the plains of Clarendon and St. Catherine;
Modernisation of the plants to improve reliability and efficiency;
The need for resources to deal with
harvesting challenges;
The need for increased labour productivity, and;
Cost reduction.
He also pointed out that for the industry to move forward efficiently there is a need for respect for all concerned. "Let us move forward purposefully and with discipline. Let us confront conflicts with respect for the rule of law and order, with respect for each other in the face of our disagreements."
Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, told the worshippers that the sugar industry is facing serious challenges. "We see a future with reduced prices for sugar and alongside that we anticipate that there is going to be an increase in the imports, how we balance one with the other is going to be the challenge we have to face," Mr. Clarke said.
Despite the challenges, Minister Clarke said there are plans to reorient the sugar industry. More specifically, he said, there are plans to maximise the number of products that can be had from sugar cane.
SUGAR PRICE HIKE
Warning against the possible rise in price of sugar on the world market, Minister Clarke said it is important that we keep the industry viable since much of the sugar produced overseas is now being diverted to ethanol.
"If we are not careful, the sugar industry that we are writing off today - we might be saying tomorrow, my God, so much money to buy a pound of sugar?"
Pointing to detractors, he said, "For those who would want to write it off, let them write off but as for me and my house I will do everything possible to continue in sugar. It is for me, still the best agricultural crop that can be grown in Jamaica."
According the minister, the production of the ethanol is not too far-reaching, stating that to produce 70 million litres of ethanol takes only 600,000 tonnes of cane and there is still market for over 200,000 tonnes and 70,000 tonnes of refined sugar, explaining that there is viability in the industry. The major challenge, he said, is to maximise production considering that the cost of production is a matter of concern.
