Good News for Belize’s Sugar Industry?

The Government of Belize has brought together key players in the northern sugar industry to address ongoing challenges facing sugarcane farmers.

On Wednesday, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Development Dr Osmond Martinez met with farmers’ associations, factory representatives and support agencies at the Sugar Industry Control Board HQ in Buena Vista Village, Corozal. The meeting brought all major stakeholders to the table, including BSI/ASR, SIRDI, the Cane Production Committee and several growers’ associations.

Discussions focused on harvest readiness, cane testing, factory updates and the need for improved sugar roads. Participants also reviewed plans to expand technical support and make financing easier for farmers, including streamlining grants under the Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project (CRESAP).

“Stakeholders agreed on next steps, responsibilities, and follow-up mechanisms to ensure that programmes and activities are better coordinated,” the official press release read.

Last season, over a hundred thousand tonnes of sugarcane were left to rot, simply because there weren’t enough hands to harvest. Prime Minister John Briceño has said the core issue is delays and labour availability rather than fees, while industry leaders argue that the rising cost of bringing in foreign cane cutters remains a major challenge.