Stanberry recommends restructuring and repositioning of sugar industry

Diversification of the product base, focusing on trading with our regional markets, and expansion of production are among the strategies identified by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Donovan Stanberry for the growth of the sugar cane industry. Mr Stanberry was speaking at the Regional Policy Workshop for industry and policy makers on the Caribbean sugar industry post-2017 held at JAMPRO in Kingston on March 23.
In welcoming the “movers and shakers” of the Caribbean sugar industry, Stanberry said the era of trading raw sugar was no longer viable and noted that in the past we had “ignored the domestic and CARICOM markets at our peril”. Going forward, he said the region needed to restructure and reposition the industry by focusing on the CARICOM market for trading in refined and raw sugar as well as sugar for the agro-industry.
Noting that the sugar industry still had great potential, the permanent secretary said the future of the industry lies in the versatility of the sugar cane in terms of energy generation and urged the meeting to decide on the common external tariffs that were needed to advance food security and supply the domestic and regional markets.
Mr Stanberry also emphasised that there was a need to expand sugar cane production and improve the productivity in the field through expanded irrigation, introduction of new varieties and use of better and improved agronomic practices.
He further noted that even with expanded production the sustainability of the industry can only be met if all the stakeholders have a stake and said that the farmer must share in the proceeds of the multiple products of the sugar cane.
Karl James, chairman of the Sugar Association of the Caribbean, said the aim of the two-day workshop is to identify practical next steps that the industry and governments can take as priority measures to ensure the viability of the industry, especially in light of the imminent changes in the European sugar regime slated to take effect in October of this year.

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