Sugar production slides as rice earns US$83M at September

Oct 29, 2009 News

Rice exports for the first nine months of the year have earned almost US$83M, the government said yesterday.
However, sugar production has fallen due to adverse weather conditions.
Rice exports for the period totalled almost 184,000 tonnes with paddy prices ranging from $2200-$2800 per bag.
According to figures of the Ministry of Agriculture, harvesting for the current crop is in progress, and is about the half way stage. Some 70,538 hectares have been sown with a little over 32,000 harvested.
While yields per acre have averaged above last season’s at 4.5 metric tonnes per hectare, the good news is that Region Two has done exceedingly well to hit the 5.3 metric tonnes per hectare.
This year, Guyana is expected to break its rice production record with some 360,000 tonnes of rice being produced.
According to the Ministry, already land preparation for the Spring crop 2010 has commenced.
To ensure smooth transactions in the grading of paddy, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has employed temporary graders to complement the existing staff that is stationed at the purchasing centres.
GRDB has just concluded its programme of end of season farmers’ exchange visits in the various rice growing regions, with approximately 800 farmers participating.
A laser leveler purchased for the research station was commissioned by the Minister of Agriculture on October 7, last.
According to the Ministry, this will serve to improve the uniformity of the surface of the research fields thus enhancing rice yields.
“This is to improve the management of water and the subsequent benefit of water use and fertilizer efficiency, improved weed control and a more uniform plant stand. This ultimately will increase the yields and returns to the farmer.”
Most of Guyana’s rice exports continue to go to countries in Europe and the Caribbean including Jamaica-43,340 mt; Trinidad-16,274 mt; Haiti-19,290 mt; Holland-24,843.mt; Portugal-3,585 mt; Spain-6,300 mt; and Belgium -5,611 mt.
Recently, an historic $3.7B contract was signed with Venezuela for the export of a total of 50,000 mt of paddy and white rice.
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry, sugar production at the end of September 2009, was 170,349 tonnes, compared to 175,559 tonnes for the same period in 2008.
“While performance in the first half of the year was adversely affected by poor weather, consistent dry weather since May 2009 has aided harvesting and has allowed the Corporation to produce over 10,000 tonnes of sugar consecutively for five weeks in the second crop.
Such a milestone was last achieved during the second crop of 2004, between August and September.”
The final European Union (EU) price cut took effect at the end of September.
“From 1 October, 2009, the Corporation expects to receive a price per tonne sugar to Europe that reflects the 36 per cent price cut from its original level. Phased price cuts commenced in July 2006 and ended September 30, 2009.”
The world market at the end of September 2009 remained high, trading at 24.65 US cents/pound. This high market price has resulted mainly from poor crop performances in India and Brazil, two of the world’s largest sugar producers.
According to the release, GuySuCo’s strategy for the future is to increase sugar production and value added output through measures which include the expansion of cultivation of the Blairmont estate and upgrade of its factory; construction of a 40,000 tonnes capacity sugar packaging plant at Enmore with potential of expansion to 80,000 tonnes; expansion of the Enmore factory, expansion of cane supply from Skeldon estate and farmers; increased supply of co-generated power to the national grid and accelerated land rehabilitation across the industry with the aid of outside contractors.
Work has commenced on these projects and is continuing apace, the Ministry said yesterday. The acceleration of land rehabilitation commenced in the second crop and is steadily increasing as more contractors come on board.
Co-generated power supply is expected in the last quarter of 2009. The Skeldon expansion is planned to be completed by the end of 2010, the new Packaging Plant will be operational in 2011 and the expansion of Blairmont estate (agriculture and factory) and the Enmore factory are planned to be completed by 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Latest News

Sugar production slides as rice earns US$83M at September

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

St. Lucia’s Elite Blazers takes aim at FIBA 3×3 World Tour in...

Petra/Milo U18 Football kicks off Round II action...

Track and Field clubs demand nullification of AAG...

Joint Statement from WIPA and CWI on Athlete...

RCNA launches Childhood Obesity Prevention...

FL Sport donates stumps to Meten-Meer-Zorg...

Features/Columnists

Following one’s conscience rather than the crowd

If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?

IMF report – cup half full, or a cup of Novocain

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Sugar production slides as rice earns US$83M at September

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]