Cane farmers in Western Jamaica cry foul

Alarm bells have been sounded yet again in the wake of growing concerns about the plight of cane farmers in Trelawny and St. James since the closure of the Long Pond Sugar Factory. 

There are reports of vast amounts of unreaped cane that have been piling up and going to waste because alternative arrangements to get the product to other factories are yet to be finalised.

Allan Rickards, Chairman of the All Island Cane Farmers Association, says Trelawny cane farmers have been experiencing severe hardships and steps must be taken to protect the interest of the farmers.

Mr. Rickards also pointed to concerns about the 2011/2012 sugar crop in light of the closure of the Long Pond Sugar factory.

"We have written to the (Agriculture) Minister to request that the matter be reviewed. He has instructed the chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority to receive reports and to make recommendations to him, which has been done.

"We're contending that the farmers in the Trelawny (and) St. James area must deliver their cane to the Long Pond Factory as usual, because that is the factory to which they are registered," Mr. Rickards said.

He added that the Sugar Industry Authority is in dialogue with other sugar factories for the intake of cane from farmers in Trelawny and St. James.