GuySuCo produced 6738 tonnes of sugar for 1st crop of 2024

– Cuban engineers to assist in further mechanisation of sector

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has produced 6,738 tonnes of sugar for its first crop of 2024, falling short of the initial target of 16,000 tonnes.
This was according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in response to questions posed by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Vinceroy Jordon on the sugar industry. The minister stated that the shortfall of the target is a result of the devastating effects of the prolonged drought, which “significantly restricted the growth of canes”.
In a written response to the opposition member circulated in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the minister provided a breakdown of the production at various estates.
He revealed that the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate produced 2874.3 tonnes while Blairmont produced 2084.8 tonnes and Rose Hall with the lowest, 1779.8 tonnes.
While the three estates began grinding sugar canes between February to April 2024, it was explained that the Albion Estate ‘did not grind for the first crop due to a powerhouse fire on February 3’. The Skeldon Estate also encountered several issues when producing its first crop.
However, in May, the first group of 12 Cuban engineers arrived in Guyana to assist in the sugar industry. In light of this development, the minister was also questioned about the purpose of the team.
In response, he disclosed that the Agricultural Engineering team is here to provide critical support to promote the mechanisation of agricultural operations, especially as it relates to improving agricultural productivity and to better utilise available human resources at the various estates.
This includes conducting field layouts for development and engaging in training of staff and maintenance requirements of field and factory equipment.
Additionally, during their 12-month stay, the agronomist will support the agriculture department in improving its agronomic practices and ultimately, its best practices.
Further, it was explained that as relates to the factories, the need to improve overall efficiencies in the areas of milling and process house operations, and boilers and steam generation have influenced the choice of Engineers.
“Having reviewed possible sources of engineers from outside of Guyana, Cuba was found to have had a long history of cane sugar production and productivity which matched Guysuco’s needs. It was therefore the logical country to go in close proximity to Guyana for highly technical competent staff. Improvement in the field and factory operational parameters to increase higher levels of cane and sugar production on all Estates,” the minister stated.
Last year, GuySuCo accomplished a noteworthy milestone by exceeding its yearly sugar output target of 60,000 tonnes. In the sugar sector, 28 per cent growth was recorded last year. This was a result of GuySuCo having produced 60,204 tonnes in 2023, compared with 47,049 tonnes in 2022.
With the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government having injected over $17 billion into the sugar industry and currently supporting close to 8000 workers, President Ali has, for some time, made it clear that his Administration would continue to invest in the sector to bring it up to viability.
Between 2016 and 2017, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regime closed several estates across Guyana – an action that displaced more than 7000 sugar workers, who were not only without jobs but who had no means to support their families and contribute to their villages as well as the national economy.
Since assuming office in August 2020, the PPP/C Government has undertaken a slew of measures to revive the sugar sector, and rehired some 2000 of those dismissed workers. The PPP/C had promised in its manifesto to revive sugar and reopen these estates.
However, after it was found that the assets at Wales Estate were sold out by the previous regime, the PPP/C Government announced plans to establish a Development Authority, where several major industrial operations would be undertaken. Similarly, the Enmore Sugar Estate is also being transformed into an industrial area.
Meanwhile, the Government’s efforts to reopen the Rose Hall Estate saw a whopping $1.1 billion being expended last year to have the facility up and running. A summary of the major works included both civil and structural interventions – including rehabilitation of the cane gantry, pre-milling, milling, boiler and process house roofing.