But what about the sugar industry? We've been reporting on the issues between BSI/ASR and the BSCFA, and in August, you heard the judge's ruling that the SICB could no longer impose a levy on BSI.
Today, we asked the minister for an update on the sugar cabinet subcommittee, and whether he thinks the sugar industry:
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"We are supposed to meet this week with the cane farmers, we need to start the crop, we need to have an agreement between BSI and BSCFA to start the crop, that is what we are focusing on in the next two weeks right here."
"The sugar industry will not die, many industries decline and then they come up, world prices, the sugar industry may not decline, it will not end, it will probably shift hands from small producers to big producers, I don't know, that is yet to be seen. As long as I'm the Minister of Agriculture, I will try and ensure that stays in the hands in the farmer, I will do my best, that's what people voted me to do, ensure that the farmers can survive in the industry."
