Belize’s Sugar Industry Does Not Have Enough Cane Cutters!

Belize’s sugar industry is heading into the new crop season facing a critical shortage of cane cutters. Last season, more than 100,000 tonnes of cane were left standing because there weren’t enough workers to harvest it.

Industry leaders warn the problem could repeat itself, even as farmers continue to battle disease outbreaks in cane fields, poor access roads, and ongoing mill maintenance issues.

Marcos Osorio, Chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board, said the sector must first organise itself before seeking government assistance. “For the upcoming harvest season, the industry needs a hundred cane cutters, and we have identified 18 in Guatemala and 20 in Honduras… And now that we have everything in place, then we can come to government and say, how can you facilitate the process?”

Osorio also explained the high costs farmers face when bringing in foreign labour. “It was costing them almost $600 per cane cutter, and that’s only the cost of the stamp at the border. And then by the time the permit is approved, it’s another $300… In the past, it was $50 per stamp per month,” he said.

Adding to the pressure, Belize Sugar Industries and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association have yet to sign a commercial agreement for this season. In past years, that gap has triggered industrial action and stalled milling operations, which is costly for farmers and the wider economy. With the crop already delayed by bad weather and mill maintenance, any further dispute could push the start date back even more.

Osorio says talks are ongoing and expressed optimism that an agreement can be reached soon.