When it comes to Belize's sugarcane industry, you could remember Charles Dickens and say It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…
That's because the wild fusarium that was all the news last year is now mostly under control. And the weather which forced stoppages last year has been favorable this year.
And more than that, sugar output will be better than last year - and may even meet the modest target.
But, while production and cane quality are up, prospects are down: Gas prices are through the roof, and fertilizer is even more expensive - and that's when it's available - which means the farms are not being primed for next year's crop.
And after fusarium there are other strange pests:
The Executive Director of SIRDI discussed the challenges:
Marcos Osorio, Executive Director, SIRDI
"The industry is in a critical cross roads at this time Marisol, with the climate, with tests more-so the liquidity of farmers that is not there. It will certainly have a major impact in production so if there is an urgency for the association leaders to strategize and for those that also have access to fair trade premiums for them to urgently make investments for farmers to be able to make some investments or implement some husbandry practices at the field level. Or we will see a further decrease in production which is very concerning because also we have to bare in mind that the mil has a significant capital investment and actual costs that they have to meet annually. And if production gets to 500,000 tons I don't know if that is something viable for the mill to be able to operate."
"The forecast is that our sugar output will be better than last year. But the concern is the production for next crop."
The cane season is expected to end in the second week in June.