Though the Frome Sugar Factory is currently operating at almost half its capacity with roughly four months remaining in the crop season, Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of agriculture, is optimistic that 2008/09 sugar cane production will surpass last year's output.

The projection for the current crop season shows an increase of about 10 per cent, Tufton told journalists at a press conference last Monday at the ministry's head office on Hope Road in St Andrew.

"Production is likely to be slightly up over last year," he said.

Behind schedule

The projected increase also comes against the background that operations at Frome started in January, almost two months behind schedule.

The five state-owned sugar estates produced under 100,000 tonnes of sugar cane during the 2007/08 crop season. Total production was approximately 130,000 tonnes, with injection from private companies.

"The projection this year is expected to be up, somewhere between five and 10 per cent," said the minister.

The target at Frome this season is 49,000 tonnes, a projected downturn from the 53,000 tonnes produced the previous year.

With the late start at Frome, operations still follow previous procedures in which one mill commences before the other.

The second mill is scheduled to start processing sugar cane in February. Each mill grinds about 3,500 tonnes of sugar cane daily.

Tragic situation

One farmer, Frank Lewis said while the Government had not sealed the planned divestment of the sugar estates, frustration and conflict surrounded the start-up of crop season.

"It is a tragic situation; very tragic. The farmers and workers not happy," said Lewis.

At the press conference, Tufton said the negotiations were scheduled to be completed "very soon". The minister has offered no information about the sticking points which have put on pause the heads of agreement with Infinity Bio-Energy, which missed its December 2008 deadline. That date was a 90-day extension on the closing of the deal, originally scheduled for September 30.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com