Georgetown: The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) is expected to achieve its second crop target of 150,000 tonnes , according to Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.
He explained that due to a change in weather pattern, factories have not been allowed to produce to full capacity and this has been reflected in recent production figures.
This has had an impact on production, particularly at the Skeldon sugar factory, which was scheduled to commence operations on August 5, 2013 but did not get to do so until the end of August.
In addition, the Uitvlugt Factory had started its second-crop operations, but was forced to suspend work because of constant rainfall and had resumed at a later date.
However, the current weather conditions are ideal for sugar production and all factories are in operation. As such, Ramsammy said that he is confident that the second crop target will be met.
The Skeldon factory had initially been touted as the flagship of the sugar industry but has been plagued with several issues affecting its efficient functioning since its commission in 2009. Bosch Engineering was contracted to modify the factory, and remedial works were completed prior to the commencement of the first crop of 2013.
According to Ramsammy, the factory continues to have some teething problems, but some of the work done by Bosch has resulted in improvement.
He further stated that while the remedial works have not resulted in the kind of improvement that was anticipated, it might be too early to draw a definite conclusion since the factory is now, for the first time since the work was done, operating with good weather.
“So we need to give it a chance for a few more weeks of good weather and see what the production looks like,” the minister said.
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