New Sugarcane Crop Season Officially Opens
This morning at 10 a.m., the gates of the Belize Sugar Industry (BSI) in Orange Walk opened, welcoming sugarcane farmers to make their first deliveries as they mark the start of the new sugarcane crop season. BSI’s communications director, William Neal, told News 5 that despite challenges such as heavy rainfall and the spread of fusarium disease, which has affected much of the northern cane crop, the company remains “optimistic.”
The opening followed a brief symbolic ceremony, during which leaders from various sugar cane associations participated in a “cane toss.” Neal explained, “The different associations’ leaders will bring a bundle of cane and toss it into the carriers, signalling the beginning of the crop season.”
Although the season was initially set to begin on December 16, Neal assured that the delay still keeps the opening within the preferred grinding window, which runs from mid-December to late May, or even June.
Last month, the Ministry of Agriculture declared a state of emergency due to a fungal disease, Fusarium, which has affected up to 40,000 acres of sugar cane. This disease causes the cane to yellow and wilt, making it unsuitable for sugar production. When asked what impacts this can have on this year’s crop season, Neal assured that BSI remains hopeful for a smooth crop season despite the fungal threat. He said, “In some areas they’re saying the fusarium could impact, especially in the Corozal District, where it’s more pervasive, with as much as 30% of production; that is significant. But we are keeping our fingers crossed, and we are hoping that we will be able to bring in as much cane as possible and have another record in terms of payments, as well as our sugar productions.”
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