Evidence garnered from a year of experimentation has proven that the articulated tractor technology is better suited to prepare fields for mechanised harvesting when compared to the fixed frame technology, says GuySuCo in a rebuke to a group that said otherwise.
In the past year, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was criticized for its decision to purchase articulated tractors instead of fixed-framed John Deere ones, which were being pushed by an unnamed but “well-connected minority”. In the last year, the group which GuySuCo described as “sugar charlatans”, accused the Corporation of disregarding a recommendation to procure fixed-framed tractors over articulated ones.
Reports are that the recommendation for fixed-framed tractors was based on a report submitted to GuySuCo’s Board of Directors though this was never substantiated. GuySuCo at the time was looking to procure six 195HP articulated agricultural tractors.
The group had recommended the purchase of John Deere brand tractors saying that this brand was cost effective and cheaper to operate. The group had also stated that a “section” of GuySuCo’s Board of Directors advised against the purchasing of the GAME brand of articulated tractors based on findings.
According to the group’s report, while both tractor brands, GAME and John Deere, do the same work, the John Deere tractor utilises approximately eight gallons less fuel and completes its task 19 minutes quicker than the other brand.
However, GuySuCo, in a two-page advertisement in yesterday’s Sunday Stabroek, contended that a detailed study in the Journal of the American Society of Agriculture and Biological Engineers confirmed that the articulated technology remains the most cost-efficient technology to till the land in order to achieve the intended cane yields.
The advertisement further stated that in November of 2020, the Procurement Sub-Commit-tee of the Board unanimously recommended the procurement of six articulated tractors. It further noted that records revealed that the Union representative on the Board played a leading role in the decision.
The advertisement further stated that the Executive Management of GuySuCo, including the Chief Executive Officer, were not members of the Procurement Sub-Committee, but supported the recommendation based on strong scientific evidence.
However, the sugar company advertisement said that “uncorroborated “criticism of this recommendation caused it to be set aside, and a decision was taken to have independent field testing of the two technologies. As a result, two articulated tractors were imported and they were field-tested for most of 2021.
GuySuCo’s advertisement revealed that on January 7, 2022, the independent team of professional engineers issued a report which stated that the articulated tractor technology was more suitable for fields prepared for mechanical harvesting. The report also recommended the procurement of fixed-framed tractors for ploughing the “Dutch bed”.
According to the advertisement, the dire shortage of machinery, compounded by flooding has hampered sugar production. The Corporation, said that in a bid to fix Albion and Blairmont, there was an immediate need for seven articulated tractors and five fixed-frame tractors. However, according to GuySuCo, because of budgetary constraints, it was only able to procure six articulated and four fixed-framed tractors.
The corporation disclosed that the six articulated tractors were procured through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). GuySuCo said that it had an award letter from the NPTAB which conducted an independent evaluation and it was this instrument that it used to sign the contract. Further, said GuySuCo, based on the recommendation of the Procurement sub-Committee of the Board, another nine fixed-framed tractors were procured.
On June 16, 2022, GuySuCo signed nine contracts valued at $200M for the procurement of six tractors for the Rose Hall and Blairmont sugar estates. During the signing it was noted that the procurement was intended to fast-track the government’s efforts to have both facilities resume production as soon as possible.
GuySuCo in the advertisement yesterday said that with the bulldozers and the articulated tractors in the tillage fleet, there was no need to plough the land three times, since the 32 inches harrow provided the standard tilth and depth during the operations over two runs. The Corporation noted that from a fuel perspective alone, the single act of removing the third run of ploughing would improve cost efficiencies of the land preparation programme without compromising cane yields.
GuySuCo ended the advertisement by outlining its future plan. This includes: changing the sales mix by moving up the chain to packaging sugar rather than bulk. Expanding the packaging plant at Blairmont and building a new plant at Albion;
Rationalising the cost structure through greater utilisation of technology and mechanisation without displacing any worker and refocusing the human resource capacity into becoming business leaders;
Greater private sector engagement in all operations by utilising public-private partnerships and broad ideas such as ethanol production at Uitvlugt and sharing of noncore assets like the Demerara Sugar Terminal to leverage greater value for the shareholders and this country.
