And, Chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association Fred Ortega also spoke today via zoom. He said the cocktail of problems forced the farmer groups to come together.
Alfredo Ortega, Chairman - BSCFA
"This time is totally different because not only the price is low, the quality of cane was low and the issue with the pest, especially the fusarium, that is something hugely damaging those cane fields that are infected and we can see that the infestation is growing rather than reducing."
"So that is why we came together to ask for these assistance so that we can reduce and well at least hold that the spreading of this disease, at least don't continue. That is something that we are looking for and as I said we are really seeing that it's not only now as we have experienced it before that only prices go down but now it's price down a combination of problems new problems that we're facing now with a different pest and also looking forward into the quality of our cane that we have delivered to remain."
The Prime Minister has stated that the losses to the farmers this year is estimated at 31 million dollars.
