Sugar crop gets going today

TWO WEEKS later than originally scheduled, the 2012 sugar cane harvest starts today.
In January, chairman of the Barbados Sugar Industries Limited, Dr Attlee Brathwaite, said that while BSIL was looking to a mid-February start, persistent rain could create serious challenges.
Brathwaite explained that a lot of extraneous matter is picked up by machines operating in wet conditions. He also said that the soil compression by the equipment could also affect the regrowth of canes.
Harvesting in heavy rains results in lower than normal sugar yield.
The SATURDAY?SUN,?quoting usually reliable sources, reported that the start was delayed by the unavailability of about 300 tonnes of hydrated lime used to purify cane juice before it is converted to sugar.
 Barbados is expected to produce just under 22 000 tonnes of sugar this year.
When the MIDWEEK NATION visited Port Vale and Andrews factories yesterday, workmen were busy getting things in order for today.
Harvesting is expected to go through to July.