Mitigation measures could have reduced damage to crops caused by rain – GAWU

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has said that the damage of 80 per cent of the first crop for 2022 caused by rainfall at the Albion Estate could have been prevented had the traditional mitigation measures been put in place.
In a preliminary report for the 2021 results, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) disclosed that it lost some 35 per cent of the standing cane for the 2nd Crop of 2021 due to the unprecedented floods experienced but still managed to meet the demands of the local market last year.
The sugar estates in Berbice account for more than 77 per cent of the Corporation’s production, which stood at 58,025 tonnes by the end of 2021.
At the Albion Estate, where 50 per cent of the production was programmed to be made, some 80 per cent of the standing canes planned to be harvested for the 1st Crop of 2022 were destroyed as a result of the floods.
GuySuCo said it drained some 4.5 million tonnes of water off the land daily during the 65 days’ flood – enough water to fill 2000 Olympic sized swimming pools.
However, GAWU contended that while it was expected that sugar production would be curtailed by the weather, as well as workers, the damages to the crops could have been reduced had the requisite mitigation measures been in place.
“Our Union was advised that several long-standing mitigation measures were not put in place prior to the onset of the rains. It is felt had those measures been pursued the damages sustained could have been reduced. GuySuCo has informed that some 80% of Albion’s first crop 2022 canes have been damaged,” GAWU said in its year-end review.
According to the Union, the fact that Albion was underwater for several weeks has significantly dented the estate’s contribution to the industry. This, it added, will definitely restrict 2022’s production. But GAWU believes that with adequate and timely resources, along with a motivated workforce, and a proper plan, the Albion Estate could be rehabilitated in a short period.
While the sugar corporation reported that workers were champions in persevering despite adversity, GAWU pointed to GuySuCo’s “scatter shot” when it claimed that workers protests aggregated to some 20,000 man days resulting in losses of $700 million.
The Union noted that this means each worker contributes $35,000 daily to the Corporation’s coffers. Thus, should each of the 7500 workers, at the grinding estates, work just 100 days in 2021 then GuySuCo’s revenue would amount to $26.25 billion. But it said while workers worked more than 100 days last year, the revenues have not reached such levels.
“The GAWU was heartened to learn that the Corporation has managed to reduce its losses this year. For us, it demonstrates that investments made are bearing fruit. At the same time, in the media, a debate has emerged regarding the effectiveness of the current management. Indeed, what has been revealed is troubling if it is true. It seems to indicate that the management needs to be strengthened,” the missive from the Union detailed.
It went on to say that while the Corporation has lost over the years several skilled personnel; given its trajectory there is an urgent need to fill the gaps. GAWU lauded the Guyana Government for indicating its intention to put this on the agenda for this year.
This is part of the PPP/C Administration’s promise to return the sugar industry to a viable state and reopen the estates that were closed by its predecessor, which sent thousands of sugar workers on the breadline.
Only last month, Government secured $3.8 billion in supplementary funds to support the distribution of one-off cash grants of $250,000 to the severed sugar workers and for out of crop support for the industry.
Some 5263 dismissed workers benefited from the initiative which totalled $1.3 billion. Of these severed workers, some 1200 were rehired by GuySuCo.
In addition to the $2.3 billion for out-of-crop support, another $236 million has been allocated for drainage and irrigation works including providing services to the farmers.
Apart from these supplementary funds, the Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government had previously injected in excess of $9 billion into GuySuCo since assuming office in August 2020. (G8)