2026 Sugar Crop Season Opens with Optimism

The 2026 sugar cane crop season officially opened today with much fanfare at BSI in Tower Hill, Orange Walk Town, marking the start of what government officials hope will be a record-breaking year for the industry.

Prime Minister John Briceño, who also serves as the area representative for Orange Walk Central, attended the ceremony and stressed the importance of the sugar industry to the northern region and the national economy. He said his presence was not symbolic but a reflection of the government’s commitment to action. “For me as Prime Minister and as area representative, it is a duty. Being from the North, we fully understand and appreciate the importance of this industry. It is a privilege and an honor to be here and to reemphasize how important sugar is,” Briceño told News 5. “Talking is cheap. It’s about the actions and what you do.”

Briceño noted that following the Commission of Inquiry report, the government worked alongside farmers and industry stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan calling for a $130 million investment over time. He said that when the industry was threatened by fusarium disease, the government immediately secured $3 million to combat the problem.

“Instead of productivity going down, it has increased, and we expect to reach the one million ton mark this crop season,” he said.

The Prime Minister also pointed to ongoing collaboration with the 5Cs (Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre) project, which has provided $50 million to strengthen the resilience of farmers and help them adapt to climate change. “Climate change is here, and we are teaching farmers how to adapt. We are demonstrating not just by talk, but by action, how serious we are about the sugar industry,” he stated.

Addressing concerns about the condition of sugar roads, Briceño explained that repairs have been delayed due to persistent rainfall, which makes roadwork difficult and ineffective when heavy equipment is in use. However, he assured farmers that work is now moving forward.

“We’re working full speed ahead trying to fix as many sugar roads as we possibly can,” he said, adding that the dry season provides a better opportunity for sustainable repairs.