Earlier in the news, you say Agriculture Minister Jose Mai along with the cane farmers who came down from Orange Walk to help clean up the city. That press encounter allowed us the opportunity to ask about the announcement from Belize Sugar Industries Limited that farmers had received a total payment of 70 dollars and 78 cents per ton for sugar cane delivered to the mill during the last crop season.
This payment is the highest cane farmers of the north have received for their produce in the last five years and the fourth highest since 2000.
So what does Mai - who is also a cane farmer - think about that payment? He told the press today that he believes that it could have been higher:
Reporter
"Are you happy with the recent payment and the promise future payments for sugar?"
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"I saw the last payment and I think its the highest in so many years. My view: it could be better."
Reporter
"But you'll take it, you can't do anything about it."
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"Why not, it's mine?"
Reporter
"You say it can be higher you're okay with it."
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"Of course its better than what I got last year and 5 years ago."
Reporter
"What's contributing to that best price right now?"
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"The world prices."
Reporter
"Are you concern about the future one that they are already talking about?"
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"In Belize, I'm always concern about the price the farmers get for sugarcane. I've always been concern, because I'm a cane farmer. I don't own a cane field, I'm a cane farmer. I know what it takes to grow cane. I know what it cost to grow cane. I know how much money is left after I pay my bills. So, I'm always concern for the price of sugar paid to the farmers of this country."
