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Cane fires no longer a serious problem at Frome
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
var addthis_pub="jamaicaobserver";
FOR decades the burning of cane fields, especially at Frome in Westmoreland, proved a choking problem for the local sugar industry, with repeated reports of numerous cane fires at reaping time.
But according to CEO of the Sugar Corporation Holdings Limited, Aubyn Hill the burning problem has now been solved.
"When we [divestment team] came we had thousands of fires at Frome," Hill told reporters and editors at the Observer's weekly Monday Exchange meeting held yesterday at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue head office in Kingston.
"You go and check how many fires we have this year. Maybe 1/20 of the amount last year," he said.
According to Hill, farmers, facing a recurring back-up in purchasing cane at the factory, had resorted to burning fields to speed up the buying process.
He said that most of the fires occurred in Westmoreland where farmers depended primarily on sugar cane for income.
"If you don't get your cane to make sugar, cane does not help you," said Hill, adding that his information was gathered after speaking with people involved "on the ground".
He argued that farmers routinely lit cane fires in the region in order to receive preference from the Frome factory because burnt cane had to be reaped within 24 to 48 hours.
The delay in purchasing cane, and the resulting fires, Hill charged, was spawned by the inefficient operation of the Westmoreland factory, which has a capacity of approximately 100 tonnes of sugar.
"When the factory is inefficient and not on time, and breaking down frequently you have a queuing problem," said Hill. "In order to get in the queue you burn your cane."
He said that in 2009 he made it "absolutely clear" that the factory would start on time and made every effort to secure all the parts required for sustained operation.
Two weeks ago Chinese company Complan entered a deal with the Jamaican Government to purchase the Frome, Monymusk factory in Clarendon and St Catherine's Bernard Lodge sugar factory. The Chinese company is expected to take control of the three factories next year after sugar supply deals with international company Tate & Lyle and Italy's Eridana are completed.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
var addthis_pub="jamaicaobserver";
FOR decades the burning of cane fields, especially at Frome in Westmoreland, proved a choking problem for the local sugar industry, with repeated reports of numerous cane fires at reaping time.
But according to CEO of the Sugar Corporation Holdings Limited, Aubyn Hill the burning problem has now been solved.
"When we [divestment team] came we had thousands of fires at Frome," Hill told reporters and editors at the Observer's weekly Monday Exchange meeting held yesterday at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue head office in Kingston.
"You go and check how many fires we have this year. Maybe 1/20 of the amount last year," he said.
According to Hill, farmers, facing a recurring back-up in purchasing cane at the factory, had resorted to burning fields to speed up the buying process.
He said that most of the fires occurred in Westmoreland where farmers depended primarily on sugar cane for income.
"If you don't get your cane to make sugar, cane does not help you," said Hill, adding that his information was gathered after speaking with people involved "on the ground".
He argued that farmers routinely lit cane fires in the region in order to receive preference from the Frome factory because burnt cane had to be reaped within 24 to 48 hours.
The delay in purchasing cane, and the resulting fires, Hill charged, was spawned by the inefficient operation of the Westmoreland factory, which has a capacity of approximately 100 tonnes of sugar.
"When the factory is inefficient and not on time, and breaking down frequently you have a queuing problem," said Hill. "In order to get in the queue you burn your cane."
He said that in 2009 he made it "absolutely clear" that the factory would start on time and made every effort to secure all the parts required for sustained operation.
Two weeks ago Chinese company Complan entered a deal with the Jamaican Government to purchase the Frome, Monymusk factory in Clarendon and St Catherine's Bernard Lodge sugar factory. The Chinese company is expected to take control of the three factories next year after sugar supply deals with international company Tate & Lyle and Italy's Eridana are completed.
Aubyn Hill, CEO of the Sugar Corporation of Jamaica Holdings Limited, addresses yesterday’s Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s head office in Kingston. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
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