Sugar Industry in “State of Crisis”: Stakeholders Demand Immediate Government Action

Leaders of Belize’s four sugarcane producers’ associations issued a joint resolution declaring a “critical and unprecedented crisis” in the sugar industry. The associations warned that escalating biological threats have severely undermined cane production, which now jeopardises the sector’s long-term survival.

In a resolution signed on Monday, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association (CSCPA), Northern Sugar Cane Growers Association (NSCGA), and Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association (PSCPA) pointed to widespread crop destruction caused by the froghopper, the stem borer, and the emergence of fusarium wilt, a fungal disease that has raised alarm across farming communities.

“The current challenges cannot be borne by sugarcane farmers alone, who lack the financial capacity to shoulder the full burden of recovery and investment necessary for sustainable production,” the associations said. “Immediate and decisive intervention is imperative.”

It added, “These biological threats, compounded by the escalating effects of climate change, have placed the industry at grave risk. Immediate and decisive intervention is imperative.”

Their proposals include:

• Increasing the local price of Molasses C by 1.5 times and Molasses B by 2 times the current export price, with proceeds going to a Cane Sustainability Fund.
• Allocating 65% of any authorised price increase in plantation white and brown sugar to the Cane Sustainability Fund.
• Raising the electricity tariff for bagasse-based energy sold to BEL by $0.055 per kilowatt-hour, with the added income supporting sustainability projects such as drainage infrastructure.

The associations also proposed alternative levies on molasses-derived alcohol products that could generate revenue directly for cane sustainability efforts.

The document was sent to Prime Minister John Briceño, Agriculture Minister Jose Mai, and Minister of State Dr Osmond Martinez.