All new cane fields designed for mechanical harvesting-CEO

Oct 06, 2009 News

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Errol Hanoman, in an invited comment has conceded that while there is a shortage of cane harvesters in the sugar industry, the magnitude of the problem varies from estate to estate.

As it relates to the solution, namely the mechanisation of fields, Hanoman said that the conversion of fields to more machine friendly layout is in progress.

According to Hanoman, all new fields, such as the Skeldon and Blairmont expansions, are

designed for mechanisation.

He noted, too, that the Skeldon development is expected to be completed by the end of next year and in the following year, the new factory will receive its full cane supply, to wit, 1.2 million tonnes.

The corporation’s CEO said that all existing lands across the industry which are suitable for mechanisation will be converted by the end of 2014.

He noted also that from 2015, onwards, 44 per cent of the total harvestable area will be capable of being harvested mechanically but the remaining 56 per cent, being Dutch Beds, will be cut manually but loaded by the mechanical cane loaders.

The CEO also disclosed that it is intended that full manual cut and load will cease by the end of the 2014 crop season.

Over the years the sugar industry’s production level has been plagued by numerous strikes by cane cutters.

Last month during the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) congress, President Bharrat Jagdeo called on sugar workers to report more often to the cane fields and to help push the Skeldon sugar factory to full operation in order to ensure the survival of the sugar industry.

He said that the government’s commitment to the industry is evident in the investment of US$212 million for various projects, including the construction of the new state-of-the-art Skeldon sugar factory.

“This is not gaff; this is US$212 million,” he told delegates at the opening of the 19th triennial congress.

He told sugar workers that they have to pull their weight. He bemoaned the fact that attendance has been poor.

Jagdeo also expressed concern about strikes by sugar workers, saying that while the government defends the rights of workers to strike, they must utilise the grievance procedure.

Jagdeo said that while sugar workers want more pay and additional benefits, they must face the reality that GuySuCo is suffering “huge” losses.

He did not agree with GAWU President that poor management by British-turned-South African firm, Booker Tate, was responsible for the declining production over recent years. Instead, Jagdeo said that the changing climate, resulting in increased rainfall, was a factor that needed to be considered.

GuySuco, last year, turned out its lowest production in 18 years – 226,267 tonnes, GAWU President Komal Chand said. GAWU represents most sugar workers in the country.

Chand laid the blame for declining production on the poor management of Booker Tate, saying that a factor such as worker absenteeism is not a new complaint against workers. He said this was also a concern in 2003/2004, but the industry still produced over 300,000 tonnes of cane sugar.

President Jagdeo urged sugar workers to return to that production level as a way of helping the industry out of its position of loss.

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All new cane fields designed for mechanical harvesting-CEO

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