The main sugar union, GAWU yesterday said that there is an urgent need to strengthen the management of GuySuCo.
In a press release, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) lambasted a two-page statement by GuySuCo in the last Sunday Stabroek which mainly dealt with the need for articulated tractors versus fixed-frame types. The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) said in the statement that a one-year experimentation had proved that articulated tractors were better for preparing beds for mechanical harvesting.
Dubbing the GuySuCo statement as intended to mislead, GAWU yesterday identified a number of areas where it remained at odds with the corporation in relation to tillage and the temporary abandonment of productive lands.
On the question of the articulated tractors, GAWU said that the Corporation omitted pertinent facts associated with GuySuCo’s Procurement Committee recommendations.
“We are aware that deliberations of the Corporation’s Procurement Committee remain confidential and, therefore, to disclose (the) content of those discussions which came to our hand would be unethical and improper. Nonetheless, we understand that the Committee, comprising several board members, extensively and intensively debated purchase of articulated tractors. These debates eventuated on a course of action that advised on purchase of a small quantity of tractors against a larger quantity recommended by the Executive Management. The Committee’s intent, from what we gather is to allow the type of tractors to be evaluated within Guyana’s context before making further decisions on purchase. It appears to us that the Procurement Committee was prudent in its decision-making”, the union said.
Tillage
GAWU said that the Corporation bemoaned inadequate tillage arising from the absence of a suitable fleet of tillage tractors. But GAWU said that the data supplied by GuySuCo seems to paint a different narrative. For instance, at Albion, the tillage tractor fleet was available 72.8% of the 46 available opportunity days during the 2021 second crop. However, the fleet was only utilized 37.1% of the time. GAWU said this shows that the fleet though available was not operable for substantial periods of time. Notwithstanding the operational deficit, GAWU said that the estate realised 78.4% of its tillage target.
“Had utilization been improved, it is fair to conclude that the tillage target could have been realised and surpassed”, GAWU asserted.
Looking at the data, from the other estates, GAWU said that the same yardstick could be utilized. “It then begs the question as to whether the adequacy of tillage tractors is really the sole issue for poor production”, the union said.
Turning to production levels, GAWU said that the Corporation lamented the impact of 2021 floods and failure of the gear at Uitvlugt Estate as the reasons for its 2022 first crop production – a historical low of just over 13,000 tonnes sugar.
GAWU said that in determining its production target, the Corporation would evaluate the quantity and quality of canes in each field it intends to harvest.
“Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the many ‘sugar professionals and experts’ in the Corporation must have recognized the condition of fields and formulated an estimate that is realistic and attainable for 1st crop 2022. The reality is the targets set by the ‘sugar professionals and experts’ were not achieved. To compensate for the inaccurate estimate, the Corporation resorted to harvesting of immature canes slated for second crop 2022 harvest at Albion and Blairmont Estates”, GAWU declared.
In relation to the Uitvlugt Estate, GAWU said that GuySuCo personnel were well aware of the mill turbine gear condition and damage sustained in the latter part of 2021.
“The ‘sugar professionals and experts’ advised on welding repairs against procurement of a new gear to make the unit operable for first crop 2022. The nation is aware of the fiasco that ensued where the Estate had to abandon its first crop because the welded and locally fabricated gear failed. If a new gear was ordered when the damage was observed, the aborted first crop or at least part of it could have been salvaged”, GAWU argued.
Challenges
GAWU added that GuySuCo continues to highlight tillage as a major obstacle in improving production and that aged machines are unable to complete tasks. GAWU noted that according to the GuySuCo statement, the machines were “fully depreciated” and “aged 8 – 12 years”. GuySuCo further contended that the aged machines contributed to ratooned canes as old as 12 years. GAWU countered that despite the age of the machines average cane yield data was improving before a sudden precipitous decline emerged.
“The data, in our view, demonstrates that tillage is not the only challenge. But in our view more serious agronomic issues need to be addressed in addition to tillage”, GAWU declared.
The union said that it had also recently learnt that the industry has taken a decision to temporarily abandon lands which have canes higher than five years old. The union said it learnt that at Albion some 3,080 hectares equivalent to approximately one-third of the cultivation was abandoned. At Blairmont, it said a similar proportion was also set aside.
“It is said these major decisions affecting production and productivity were taken without the consent or knowledge of the Board of Directors. Such decisions have major implications for production and productivity, but it is unclear what factor/s informed the decision-making. With GuySuCo’s own admission on the problems associated with tillage, it will be interesting to know what plans the Company has to bring those abandoned lands back into the cultivation, failing which these estates will permanently have a significant amount of lands unavailable for cane cultivation”, the union said.
The union said it learnt that the decision to abandon cane fields came against the background of lower cane productivity.
“Again, the data we obtained does not support this contention. Data obtained for the recently concluded 2022 first crop indicated that fifth ratoon and older canes were yielding 34 tonnes cane per hectare (tch) while 4th ratoon canes are yielding 32 tch. With such yields, it is logical for anyone to question the rationale of abandonment. Additionally, we understand that the field abandonment programme has taken place in a haphazard manner. Usually when fields are abandoned, they are flooded. This assists in stemming the proliferation of weeds and grass as well as preventing an upsurge in rodents”, the union said.
It added that it recently learnt that estates are confronting a major upsurge in rodents which are known to inflict significant damage on young canes. The union said it has been informed by a source that the Corporation had to recently approve an emergency purchase of rodenticide to address the situation.
The union said it was heartened by the commitment of President Irfaan Ali who at the Enmore Martyrs observances pledged to work alongside GAWU and others to return the sugar industry to viability.
“We remain committed to such engagements and believe collaboration can have a positive impact”, GAWU said.
