MANY AN economist argues that the Jamaican sugar industry is dying. Based on the heavy indebtedness, the cost of production, the physical condition of the factories, the relatively small acreages in production and low level of mechanisation, one must agree with the economist.
The recent interest of the cane farmers in taking over the factories does add a bend to the so far straight analysis. Why would a group of cane farmers want to tie an albatross around their necks? Clearly, there must be some livelihoods at stake. In my reading on the sugar industry I have not come across an estimate of how many people depend either directly or indirectly on the industry. I have neither come across any estimate of how many livelihoods have been disrupted by factory closures and subsequently the removal of acreage from production. I have neither come across what replaced the income from sugar for these people. Is this information known? If known it should be published. Research should also be done to determine if there are any countries with a sugar industry similar to Jamaica's (small acreages, little mechanisation) whose industry is not in dire straits. If such a country can be found its practices must be examined.
The Jamaican people should be polled to determine whether the industry should be revived or a plan put in place to replace sugar with some alternative crop. The people must speak. During the poll the people should be asked whether they would buy for a dollar or two more per pound, a clean sugar, packaged in material on which is published information on, and plans for, the industry. Or alcoholic beverages, made with Jamaican sugar and including information on the industry on the label, for a small premium. We could also export these products overseas to find niches of Jamaican people who will support an attempt to revive the industry. The extra proceeds of these sales would be channelled into the industry. Jamaicans would be asked to suggest who they would recommend to manage these premium funds. The Jamaican people must speak concerning the sugar industry, if the industry is given the 'thumbs up' then the people must act.
