The new Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) strategic plan (2013-2017) to turn around the sugar industry has been finalised and submitted to the parliamentary sectoral committee on economic services. The plan also stipulates that there will be a 100,000 tonne deduction in the estimated annual output, rather than what was outlined in the 2009 plan.
That plan had outlined a yearly output of 450,000 tonnes. This was revealed by Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who also sought to highlight some of the many changes to the functioning of the industry in the document. Dr Ramsammy said the new strategic plan for the sugar sector has taken into consideration the new weather patterns, the way cane is transported from the field to the factory, and the way in which canes are fed to the factories.
As it relates to the weather patterns, Ramsammy explained that they do not allow for the usual 16-18 weeks per crop, per grinding season.
“Therefore, we have to change the way we do business and the amount we did in the 16-18 weeks must now be done in 8-10 weeks, because that’s about all the good time that one could reasonably expect with the weather pattern that we have,” the minister explained.
Mechanisation
Dr Ramsammy also outlined that mechanisation is another factor that has to be looked at. However, he assured that moving in this direction does not mean the replacement of current manual labour component.
“A lot more work will be done by harvesters, since we have to contract the time.”
The agriculture minister added that these new processes mean that workers would have to improve their performance, ensuring maximum yield per acre.
New board
As it relates to the appointment of the new board of directors for GuySuCo, Dr Ramsammy disclosed that they are awaiting Cabinet’s approval of the recommendations made. Following the installation of the new board, the decision on the possible appointment of a new CEO will be announced.
The new strategic plan, coupled with the restructuring of GuySuCo’s management, is expected to finally set the pace for the way forward for the industry, which has been on a downward spiral in recent years.
The industry has been failing to reach all stipulated annual targets for sugar production owing to a number of reasons which the plan also outlines, with weather being one of the main factors.
For this year, Ramsammy said the 238,000 tonne year-end target would not be attained, since the first crop had to be curtailed as a result of bad weather, while the second crop has been adversely affected by weather as well. He however, posited that they still believe that the second crop target would be achieved and even exceed 150,000 tonnes.
