The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has announced its 2nd Crop of 2024 commences this week after experiencing favorable weather over the weekend. The duration of the 2nd Crop of 2024 is nineteen (19) weeks and should conclude by the 1st week of December.
In a statement the company said the delay in starting the Crop which was scheduled to commence mid-July was due to the heavy rainfall which persisted in the fields for the past weeks.
“Our Estates have been ready since mid-July, but the weather was not in our favor. The soggy conditions in the fields were really unsuitable, especially for mechanical harvesting, since we would have risked damaging ratoons and affecting our future yields. But we are happy that we have seen a break in the rains and we are ready to commence production this week,” says Chief Executive Officer, Paul Cheong.
Albion, Rose-Hall and Blairmont estates are scheduled to begin the burning of canes on Wednesday and Thursday this week, while Uitvlugt estate will start toward mid-August, the corporation explained. The Uitvlugt estate is said to be still experiencing unfavourable weather conditions, with rainfall measuring 32.1mm last Sunday, August 4, 2024.
Based on the amount of rainfall and sogginess in the field, Estate Manager, Hutton Griffith suggested that harvesting will commence closer to mid-August. Steam trials conducted at the estates have all been successful and pre-crop briefings will conclude today and tomorrow at the Berbice Estates.
The duration of the 2nd Crop of 2024 is nineteen (19) weeks and should conclude by the 1st week of December.
GuySuCo is confident that inspite of minor setbacks the overall Crop performance will not be affected and wished the sugar workers and all stakeholders involved a safe and productive crop.
The corporation continues to be plagued by poor management and cost of production of sugar outstripping what sugar is being sold for in the international markets. In the 2024 National Budget, which was passed in February, government allocated GY$6 Billion and last month again approached the National Assembly for GY$ 9.5 Billion supplemental, bring the total spending to GY$ 15.5 Billion so far for 2024.
