Millions to go into Jamaica sugar expansion

Jamaica hopes to continue reaping the sweets of keeping its sugar industry alive with an injection of US$11.7 million into the industry to expand and modernize it.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has set aside the money, which is in addition to the US$6.1 million already budgeted, to be put into the Cane Expansion Fund which is administered by the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) and focuses on improving the cane farms’ infrastructure, particularly irrigation and drainage, in keeping with the vision of expanded sugarcane production.

Minister Robert Montague said the move forms part of Government’s efforts to boost overall productivity in the agricultural sector.

He said the ministry will also be implementing the recommendations of the Sugar Industry Commission, chaired by Professor Alvin Wint, which addressed reshaping the institutional, regulatory and marketing arrangements within the industry, given the new market realities in Europe and privatization in Jamaica.

He said it is significant that the Commission has recommended the preservation of the SIA. The Sugar Industry Control Act, which gave birth to the SIA, made provisions for the non centralization of the marketing of sugar, through a licensing regime.

“In principle, therefore, individual manufacturers can market their own sugar, under license from the SIA, providing they subscribe to the uniform cane payment system,” Montague noted.