Cane Farmers Call for Tax Cuts After BSI Incentives

The Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association acknowledges Dr. Osmond Martinez, the junior minister responsible for the sugar industry, praising improved dialogue and efforts to bring all stakeholders to the table. But while welcoming a newly approved ten-year incentive package for the Belize Sugar Industries, farmers say the benefits must not stop at the mill. They are now calling for tax breaks and concessions on key inputs like fuel, tractor parts, and equipment, arguing that real relief for the industry must include the producers who keep it alive. Association leaders laid out their expectations following talks with the minister.

 

Cosme Hernandez, General Manager, Progressive Sugarcane Farmers Association

“I think minister Martinez has managed to bring the four associations together and the mill as well. And I think you know about the exemption that just been approved for the next ten years. I think that’s good you know, I mean that is very good for the industry. But then again what are the farmers getting? Are we being exempted from, I can say lubricants as an example? Tractor parts? Truck parts? So these are things that we need to work together as associations. And we mentioned it to the minister yesterday and we are trying to see how best we can assist our members as in these challenging times. Since COVID, prices for agro inputs have triplicated in some cases. And if before COVID with fifty dollars paid on the ton of cane delivered then, you were just breaking even. Right now you’re under loss. So I don’t know, honestly, I don’t know how farmers still do it.”