AGRICULTURE MINISTER Roger Clarke has called on cane farmers to maximise production in order to save the ailing sugar industry from future price cuts by the European Union (EU).
Citing the intention by the EU to reduce sugar prices, Minister Clarke noted that several measures were being thought of to change the intended direction of the EU. However, he stressed that industry players needed to play their part to save the sugar sector.
"We are putting a good case forward and much is being done by our diaspora to lobby parliamentarians overseas," Minister Clarke said. The minister expressed confidence that something would be done to change the daunting prospect.
FARMERS SHOULD FOCUS
Speaking at the launch of the 13th renewal of the annual cane cutters competition on February 16 at the Guardian Life head office in Kingston, Minister Clarke said cane farmers should focus on areas where they could "maximise yields and concentrate on them".
He suggested that farmers in the sector should begin to look at areas in the industry that were doing well and replicate the methods in other ailing areas.
"The challenges are enormous and the next few years are going to be daunting," Minister Clarke said. "It is going to take the hand of everyone to save the industry. We must understand the importance of the sugar industry; our backs are against the wall now. We are going to have to survive by pulling up ourselves and do what we have to do efficiently."
The minister congratulated the cane cutters for their sterling efforts during past competitions, pointing out that their work was very important.
Allan Rickards, chairman of the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers' Association, in
pledging the organisation's full support, identified the need to increase the number of cane cutters in the industry to manually harvest green cane and to ensure efficiency of harvesting.
