The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) may surpass its first crop target this year, which is one of its lowest in the last five years.
Sources have told Stabroek News that the target for the 2023 first crop was set at 16,000 metric tonnes and is currently 96% achieved with Albion performing exceptionally well. Should the goal be achieved, this will be the first time in nine years.
Last year’s first crop production target was 20,261 metric tonnes, but the corporation only managed to produce 13,076 metric tonnes of sugar.
An industry source told Stabroek News that while this year’s first crop target is one of the lowest, it was set given the availability of cane in the fields like all other years.
In this crop season which is due to conclude in weeks, the Blairmont estate achieved 9% above its weekly targets, while Uitvlugt accomplished 8% more in mid-March. In the week ending March 26, Blairmont Estate surpassed its target by 12% owing to good weather.
Sources in the industry explained that there is low quality of sugarcane in the fields and it is likely that the crops will produce higher yields as they age. In this regard, GuySuCo’s management is focused on field management to improve the quality of sugarcane cultivated, according to the sources.
At the end of the second crop last year, production figures showed that GuySuCo was unable to achieve its target of 40,255 metric tonnes of sugar. Production figures seen by this newspaper in mid-December, indicated that it fell short of its target by 6,585 metric tonnes. The total crop production figure stood at 33,770 metric tonnes from a target of 40,255.
Last year Blairmont had also surpassed its production target by 21% as it produced 9,576 metric tonnes of sugar from a target of 7,899. Albion Estate had produced 84% of its target: 18,180 metric tonnes from a target of 21,566. Meanwhile, Uitvlugt Estate, which had faced mechanical challenges in the first crop, only produced 56% of its target. The estate’s target was 10,800 metric tonnes and it had only produced 6,014 by mid-December.
