AFTER YEARS of continuous decline and dwindling profits, the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) said it will again attempt to actively transform the ailing sugar industry into a viable sector with the implementation of various development strategies.
These include:
modernising agricultural operations to achieve increased production, improved productivity and improved cost-effectiveness;
modernising factory operations to improve efficiencies and reduce the cost of production;
diversifying to include immediately available opportunities in cogeneration, refined sugar, rum and ethanol; and
reorganising work processes, retraining employees to achieve increased labour productivity and increased earnings for industry workers.
However, the SCJ pointed out that it will require a sustained capital investment programme in agriculture, retrofit all sugar factories under its management, diversify into non-cane business activities to include vegetables, fish, livestock and heritage tourism, to make optimal use of lands and existing infrastructure.
ATTRACTING INVESTMENT
"It is our view that once we establish the viability of projects such as cogeneration, ethanol, refined sugar and once we demonstrate a commitment to the process by implementing the necessary policy framework, it will be possible to attract the investment required for implementation," said Livingstone Morrison, president and chief executive officer of the SCJ.
Sugar production fell to an all-time low last year with the production of just over 83,000 tonnes, down from 130,000 the previous year. The SCJ explained that "sugar production during 2004/05 could have been higher, but a decision was taken to end the crop at Bernard Lodge and Monymusk prematurely based on difficult harvesting conditions, which adversely affected the sugar content and made it uneconomical to continue production".
However, the sugar company said it will be starting the 2005/06 harvest season four weeks earlier than usual. As a result, harvesting will begin in December at Monymusk, Long Pond and St. Thomas factories to ensure that the cane is reaped before the rainy season.
