4 Nov 2009
Some questions for Guysuco
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) reiterates that the low volume of sugar production is causing the imbroglio in the sugar industry. Two (2) decades ago the industry was producing less than 200,000 tonnes sugar per annum and the situation was almost similar to today’s. Over the last five years, the situation was as follows:-
| Year | Guysuco Targeted Production
(000 tonnes) |
Actual Production
(000 tonnes) |
Tonnes cane per hectare |
| 2004 | 343 | 325 | 74.87 |
| 2005 | 337 | 246 | 65.43 |
| 2006 | 315 | 258 | 64.48 |
| 2007 | 295 | 266 | 71.91 |
| 2008 | 315 | 226 | 57.71 |
The Union calls on Management of the Corporation to explain to the nation:-
What is responsible for the significant variances between the Corporation’s targets and actual production?
What led to the almost twenty five (25) per cent decline in tonnes cane per hectare between 2007 and 2008, despite utilizing greater quantities of chemicals and fertilizers?
Was the same acreage of land available for harvest in 2008 as in 2004?