body,td,th { font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; }
For the past few years, the start of the sugar cane crop has been delayed. But, this year ASR/BSI is hoping for a timely start. That means in the next few weeks, and certainly by mid December. But, once again, they still don't have a commercial agreement signed with the biggest growers' group, which is the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association.
In a zoom press briefing yesterday, ASR/BSI's financial controller Shawn Chavarria more or less made a public appeal for them to sign a four year agreement and ASAP:
Shawn Chavarria, ASR/BSI's Director of Finance
"Last week we wrote the BSCFA to propose an extension of four years to our commercial agreement. This would be under the same terms and conditions that we have with the other three associations we have long term agreements with. And so it would be the same agreement. The drop in cane supply is a concern of stakeholders. From our end the mill is being under-utilised from the farmer end their production and yields are coming down, it would mean that their cost of production is going up."
"And so to ensure that we can have the mill at full capacity and then farmers operating at a lower cost and high efficiency. We do need to address the matter of keeping supply, but the environment to do it up is can only be one where there is certainty, there is that encouragement to invest. And for that to happen really you need long term agreements with the with all stakeholders, with all associations."
"So we feel that the time is right for us to do that. And we are coming off a year where we have a record in price and the indications where our sugar prices will remain positive in the upcoming year. And so it's really an opportunity for the industry to come together, collaborate more, help to drive and improve efficiencies so that we can build a better future."
"We've written to the BSCFA and are awaiting their response. Given that the plan is to try to start or to start to crop by the middle of December. We believe that a discussion or a meeting can take place in the next week or so, but we are awaiting the response from the BSCFA on that."
The BSCFA has said that they want the commission of inquiry promised by the government to begin its work before the start of the crop.
