Long Pond sugar crop to commence after 2 weeks

Factory targeted to produce 7,500 tonnes of sweetner

The 2008/ 2009 sugar crop at the state-run Long Pond sugar factory in this parish, is expected to begin within the next two weeks.

Chairman of the Jamaica Sugar Cane Growers Association Allan Rickards told the Observer West yesterday that in a meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday, it was agreed that the crop should begin on
March 15.

He added that a team including the Sugar Company of Jamaica president, Dr Richard Harrison, and chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority Derrick Heaven and himself, is expected to tour the factory and to meet with the factory's harvesting committee next Wednesday, to finalise plans for the cropping season.

Concerns have been raised in recent weeks about the protracted delay in the start of the crop, which usually begins in January.

Rickards, who was among those expressing disappointment yesterday, attributed the late arrival of funds to undertake the necessary repairs at the sugar processing plant.

But despite the late start, Rickards said the factory has been targeted to produce 7,500 tonnes of sugar from the grinding of 150,000 tonnes
of canes.

Last crop the plant produced roughly 6,000 tonnes of
the sweetener.

source: jamaicaobserver