Sugar Industry Declares Crisis, Demands Action

Tonight, the backbone of northern Belize’s agriculture is officially in crisis. In a rare and urgent move, the four major sugarcane producers’ associations have come together to declare a state of emergency in the sugar industry. The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association, Northern Sugar Cane Growers Association, and Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association say the industry is under siege from pests, disease, and the growing threat of climate change. Yields are down, quality is suffering, and livelihoods are on the line. In a joint resolution, the associations are calling on the government to act now. Their proposals include a levy on molasses-based alcohol to fund a Cane Sustainability Fund, a price hike on domestic sugar with most of the gains going toward sustainability, and a boost in electricity tariffs from bagasse to support green infrastructure. Without swift and decisive intervention, Belize’s largest agricultural foreign exchange earner could collapse. The resolution has been formally submitted to Prime Minister John Briceño and key ministers. The clock is ticking.