Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has disclosed that the sugar industry has now surpassed 170,000 tonnes for the year, and by next weekend it is expected to approach a production that will exceed last year’s total. Sugar production recorded 186,500 tonnes for 2013.
“We still have about six -seven weeks to go for the crop, and if we are about 170,000 now, it means we have to make 46,000 tonnes for the 2014 year target of 216,000 which was the original target. We adjusted it to 219,000 tonnes,” the Minister told reporters today.
The Minister said he is confident that Guyana will meet the intended target as “we have enough cane in the field. I just hope we get good weather and we don’t get too many stoppages.”
In 2013, sugar exports accounted for 8.3 per cent of total exports valued at US$112.2M, contributing 3.9 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
In an effort to strengthen the industry, in August a new board was sworn in for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
Shaik Baksh, who is the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Inc., has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
