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With 3,000 of the 5,00 farmers in the north under its banner, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers association is the powerhouse of the north.
But, today, two of the smaller associations the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association and the Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association - who, combined, represent 1,400 farmers held a virtual press conference to comment on the recent legislation passed which gives government bodies the power to issue export licenses to ASR/BSI.
They also spoke about the fair trade premiums which the BSCFA is no longer receiving but they are.
Vladimar Puc, Chairman, Corozal Sugar Cane Production Association
"CSCPA as we speak about progressive we are one CBM. They have been certified since 2016 and they have been having a very good relationship with it allied them paying our premiums. So I don't see why there has to be legislation to accommodate, to satisfy BS association who at the moment does not have a long term commercial agreement."
Reporter:
"There are suggestions that you guys there isn't any sort of outcry from the three associations represented here today. There isn't any sort of outcries from you guys because at the end of the day, you guys are enjoying now, more premiums than you would have enjoyed if BSCFA was receiving their premiums."
Vladimar Puc, Chairman, Corozal Sugar Cane Production Association
"Well, that is a question that the other association needs to answer as to you why they are not receiving premiums. And I can only say that I give thanks to fair trade, for all our efforts being made to be certified and we are enjoying such premium."
Jules vasquez
"What do you all think of the $1 million that the government has agreed to give the BSCFA in lieu of them receiving that premium this year?"
Vladimar Puc, Chairman, Corozal Sugar Cane Production Association
"Well, I am very happy for that because at the end of the day we are all cane farmers, one industry. We would like to enjoy also those moneys. Since it's moneys from our country for our tax. So it is something that we also need to enjoy. Right. We are also the other half of the industry. I heard someone mention that the 3000 plus cane farmers."
"So what happened about the other half?"
Cosme Hernandez, Gm, Progressive Sugar Cane Producers
"I think really that the government is being biased because the other association is not getting premium because of their doing. We have no fault, we have no fault with that and assisting only one association is not fair. I don't see it fair a for us."
Jules vasquez
"You said that you believe that preference is being shown for to be a BSCFA. Do you believe that is because the Minister of Agriculture is a very proud member of the BSCFA?"
Vladimar Puc, Chairman, Corozal Sugar Cane Production Association
"Yeah. And I don't need to say that we all know that. If I'm not mistaken four current Minister's are apartof BSCFA. Let's leave that there."
