THE FROME sugar factory in Westmoreland, in an effort to promote efficiency and boost its output, has joined forces with other interests in the industry to put in place a new harvesting system for sugar cane.
This is aimed at ensuring that all reaped cane arrive at the factory for milling within 72 hours.
"We have revisited the method of harvesting and have come up with a more co-ordinated approach to ensure that 80 per cent of the cane get to the factory in 24 hours, 15 per cent in 48 hours and five per cent in 72 hours," said Aston Smith, operations manager, speaking to the media over the weekend as he gave a preview of the 2003-04 sugar crop set to begin December 7.
Mr. Smith said that for the system to work effectively it will require the co-operation of cane farmers, contractors and the estate. A constant supply of cane is necessary, he pointed out, to meet the requirement of what is termed the 'kill to mill' approach.
Outlining the mechanics of the new system, the operations manager said seven harvesting monitors have been employed to keep an eye on the quality of the work being done.
Contractors, he pointed out, must be made more accountable and one way of ensuring this is to make them agree and sign to a performance report.
"There are going to be penalties for those who transgress and this could eventually lead to the termination of the contracts," Mr. Smith warned.
