Ministry Says 80% of Sugar Roads have been Repaired in Corozal  

On Friday, Belize Sugar Industries kicked off the 2024-2025 sugar crop with high hopes. Last season was a banner year, boasting record prices for sugar cane and the largest export of raw sugar in Belize’s history. But the sweet success has turned a bit sour as the industry braces for challenges ahead. Farmers are battling fusarium disease, which has hit crops hard in Corozal, and poor weather conditions aren’t helping. To make matters worse, the dreadful state of the sugar roads is making it nearly impossible for farmers to deliver their cane. Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, assured that efforts are underway to tackle these issues.

 

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture

“I just have telephoned it, the chairman of sugar board.  Mr. Osorio,  the farmers met this morning and they are still concerned. Although the MIDH is saying that in Corozal, the contracts have been completed up to eighty percent. So there seems to be some type of miscommunication regarding how many sugar roads are being done. Nevertheless, tomorrow I will proceed to meet with the cane farmers and in my area, we’ll go over the area to see which roads have been repaired and which not. But the Prime Minister is also informed.  I report to him daily on the matter of sugar industry, and if there is a need to fix the sugar roads, we have to do it. The only problem is that the weather has not been too cooperative. It rains on and off, and if it stops raining, then the soil is still wet, and the trucks can’t get in to dump. But it’s not an excuse. I will follow up tomorrow, and if we need to fix sugar roads, we will do so.”