Jamaica would appear to be following Guyana’s lead in continuing to place its faith in sugar production with last Thursday’s announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture and fisheries in Kingston that the upgrading of irrigation and drainage facilities in the industry has been earmarked for financing under a US$11.7m expansion and modernization project.
The allocation to the industry’s Cane Expansion Fund is in addition to US$6.1m already allocated for the industry this year.
Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Robert Montague says that the additional funding for the sugar industry forms part of the CARICOM country’s efforts to boost sugar production as it seeks to implement the recommendations of the local Sugar Industry Commission regarding the reshaping of the institutional, regulatory and marketing arrangements for the country’s sugar.
Much of Jamaica’s sugar cane is produced by private farmers.
