Guysuco has declared sugar production for the first crop of 2008 at 103,267 tonnes, and workers at every location have qualified for the equivalent of between one and six days’ pay under the Weekly Production Incentive Scheme.
However, Guysuco noted in a press release yesterday that although the current total exceeds the industry’s first crop totals since 2005, adverse weather conditions and to a lesser extent strike actions have been major contributing factors to the shortfall in the industry’s output when compared to the latest estimate.
The period of grinding lasted for 19 weeks with the largest location, Albion, being the last to finish by the first week of June, Guysuco said.
Grinding commenced on February 8 and for the Demerara locations varied between 10 to 12 weeks while the largest location, Albion, was the last to conclude grinding during the week of June 8 – 14.
For the Berbice region, Skeldon recorded 12,375 tonnes, Albion, 25,964 tonnes, Rose Hall 16,682 tonnes and Blairmont 15,040 tonnes of sugar, Guysuco stated.
In the Demerara region which contributed 32% of the industry total in the first crop, the 33,205 tonnes recorded by the Demerara estates constituted the LBI and Enmore locations’ 9,398 and 8,329 tonnes of sugar respectively. Wales Estate registered a record production of 9,973 and Uitvlugt 5,504 tonnes.
According to the release, among the successes of this year’s first crop are the acquisition of new bell loaders guaranteed to boost cane loading operations in the field; the notable improvements to the drainage system at some locations, especially at Albion where both residents of villages surrounding the grinding location will also benefit from the use of two recently installed submersible pumps.
Meanwhile, work is being accelerated with factory construction and land preparation at the Skeldon Sugar Modernization Project (SSMP), heralding the operations of the most modern state-of-the-art sugar plant in the region, and personnel have been trained while the commissioning of the factory this year is eagerly awaited, the release said.
The Board of Directors and Management of Guysuco extended their sincere appreciation to all of the corporation’s employees for “their dedicated and unstinting support in the first crop and anticipate continued improvements in productivity and attendance with reduced strike actions for the second crop.”
The objective for 2008, the release added, will be to surpass 300,000 tonnes of sugar and there will be increased emphasis on improving agricultural practices and investment in machinery in accordance with the Agricultural Im-provement Plan which guarantees increased yields in the fields.
Grinding for the second crop is likely to commence in July following the completion of maintenance on factory equipment, the release added.
