Long Pond Sugar Factory in Trelawny
The Long Pond Sugar Factory in Trelawny has produced 327 tonnes of sugar since resuming operations three weeks ago.
This follows the Government’s temporary takeover of the operations of the Clark’s Town-based factory last month, beginning with repairs totalling $180 million.
Making his contribution to the 2016/2017 Sectoral debate on Tuesday, Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, said the intervention has rescued the livelihood of over 230 farmers while preserving 130 jobs.
Mr. Samuda said the Government is working with the owners of the factory to find new stakeholders to invest in other revenue streams such as co-generation and the production of ethanol.
The facility is owned by Everglades Farms.
Monymusk
In the meantime, Mr. Samuda informed the House of Representatives that following Cabinet approval, the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) Holdings will operate the Monymusk Sugar Factory in Clarendon for the 2016/2017 crop year.
This forms part of an agreement between the Government and Pan Caribbean Sugar Company, the principals of Monymusk.
Under the agreement, SCJ Holdings is to operate the Monymusk factory rent free, in order to mill the over 150,000 tonnes of cane expected to be reaped for the crop period.
The SCJ will also manage 2,800 hectares of cane up to the end of the 2016 crop period.
Farmers have been invited to lease lands for one year.
President of the All Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association, Allan Rickards told RJR News on Monday that farmers are anxiously waiting to hear about the future operations of the Long Pond and Monymusk Sugar Factories after next year.
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