The sugar industry faced significant challenges last year due to prolonged dry weather, leading to a dramatic 60.4% contraction in the sector, according to the 2024 mid-year report.
In response to this downturn, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is strategizing for recovery. Chief Executive Officer Paul Cheong is confident that enhanced yields and improved crop management will bolster the sector’s performance for the remainder of the year.
What are the specific strategies for improvement?
Cheong outlines several key initiatives. Improved weed control and more efficient fertilizer use are expected to boost yields. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of enhancing worker morale to better motivate GuySuCo’s workforce of over 8,000 employees.
The dry weather last year had a severe impact, resulting in smaller cane sizes and reduced overall output. To address these challenges, Cheong advocates for better land preparation to support mechanization, improved irrigation practices, and favorable weather conditions this year.
“We are hopeful for better weather,” Cheong said, expressing optimism that the sector will recover in the latter half of the year.
Due to lower-than-expected production in the first half of the year, the annual production forecast has been revised from 100,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes.
Cheong’s optimism aligns with the government’s commitment to revitalizing the sugar industry. President Dr. Irfaan Ali recently addressed the sector’s contraction, highlighting the significant reinvestments made since the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) returned to power in 2020. These efforts include rebuilding factories, clearing neglected cane lands, repairing dams and irrigation systems, and rehiring thousands of workers.
The administration is focused on rebuilding the industry following the previous government’s neglect and the controversial shutdown of some factories during the APNU+AFC’s term from 2015 to 2020.
With ongoing efforts such as increased mechanization in cane harvesting—now at 43%—and the expansion of new planting areas, President Ali is hopeful for a substantial rebound in the second half of this year and into the first crop of next year.
