Barbados’ sugar industry has suffered a dramatic decline in production this year, with the island recording a crop approximately 30 000 tonnes lower than previous years.

Barbados Sugar Industry Ltd (BSIL) chairman Mark Sealy said this was largely caused by a delayed start to harvesting.

He also raised concerns about delayed payments to farmers.

Yesterday, Sealy warned that unless the sugar cane crop begins on time, the industry would continue to face disappointing results.

“This year is very low in comparison to previous years. One year we did 110 000 tonnes and that dropped to 100 000 tonnes another year. Last year, it was about 90 000 tonnes and we’ve dropped significantly to about 71 000 tonnes this year but that is the result of starting late,” he said.

“I keep saying it but I need to keep saying it; the crop needs to get started on February 15. We lost a reasonable amount of tonnage because canes start to rot, they go overripe and then your weight is far less and, of course, the factory is also getting poorer quality cane.”

The 2025 crop ended on June 13, with approximately 71 000 tonnes of cane delivered to Portvale Factory. Of that total, about 52 000 tonnes came from the roughly 14 farms managed by BSIL, while around 19 000 tonnes were supplied by the six farms under Agricultural Business Company (ABC) Ltd. It started in early April.

Sealy acknowledged that Portvale Factory operator Barbados Energy and Sugar Company Inc. (BESCO) faced significant challenges this season, including mechanical difficulties and industrial relations issues.

Challenges

“I recognise Portvale Factory had its challenges, both mechanical and with industrial relations and wanted to congratulate BESCO for managing the situation,” he said. However, he noted that the disruptions ultimately resulted in valuable time being lost during the crop.

While drought conditions have become a concern, Sealy stressed that weather alone could not be blamed for the disappointing yield.

“Remember last year, we had a terrible wet season. So that significantly affected the tonnage this year, besides, of course, the late start.”

He explained that successful sugar production depended on careful timing and a balance between wet and dry conditions.

“You want reasonably dry conditions during the crop because you have to get into the fields to harvest it and if it rains a lot, then you can’t get in the fields, plus you want the cane to dry out a bit. But the main thing is now that we’ve cut the cane, that we have a reasonably good wet season and consistent rainfall.”

According to Sealy, the industry’s traditional calendar exists for a reason.

“In years where there were huge amounts of sugar cane in Barbados, people started crop in January, but in more recent times, they wanted to start around February because you have to finish crop so that in the dry season, you can cultivate, then you get the wet season, which helps the ratoons to grow for the following crop.”

Germination

He added that planting ideally takes place between September and November, allowing rainfall to assist germination before the crop is harvested the following year.

“So, it’s all balancing and timing. Timing is crucial in farming and that’s the reason why these dates go back hundreds of years.”

Expanding on the delayed payments to farmers, the veteran industry official said under the agreed arrangement, farmers are paid $100 per tonne two weeks after delivery, followed by $50 per tonne at the end of July and a further payment in September. Based on the 71 000 tonnes delivered this year, approximately $7.1 million worth of cane has been supplied to the factory.

While acknowledging improvements in payment arrangements over the years, Sealy said recent delays were troubling.

“Let me first just make it clear that the timing of payments have got significantly better. Years ago, we’re talking before 2018, we would get paid a year later and that was ridiculous; farms were basically going to shut down.

“Having said that, normally, we get paid when you deliver cane one week later for that cane because, of course, the farmers need cash flow. That was put back to two weeks later, which is not too bad but unfortunately, that broke down.”

Sealy said farmers were still awaiting payment after the crop ended on June 13 and expressed hope the issue would be resolved this week.

He stressed that prompt payment was essential to allow farmers to purchase fertiliser, weedicides and other inputs needed to prepare fields for the next crop.

“We need to start on time, we need to finish on time. We need to start cultivating in the drier part of the season, we need to plant on time in September and we need to plant properly and we need, obviously, the payment on time.”

Repeating his longstanding call for earlier preparation, Sealy said: “I’ve kept on saying it, year after year, you have to start crop by February 15 and if that means that Government has to give the factory money early o’clock so that they can get the maintenance done, then they have to do it.”

Sealy said a seminar was scheduled in August by the Agricultural Research Department on how farmers could improve their husbandry to have better yields per acre, and deliver “very clean” cane to the factory, resulting in better quality molasses and sugar. (CA)