The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is gearing up for a robust year of sugar production in 2024, with plans to increase cultivation and output.
The recently reopened Rose Hall estate, now considered the most efficient among the four estates, is contributing to the corporation’s production goals.
Currently, 750 hectares of land have been prepared for sugarcane cultivation across all four estates through a public-private sector partnership.
CEO Sasenarine Singh mentioned that they are aiming for about 2000 hectares, and the available financing supports this objective.
In 2024, Rose Hall estate is expected to contribute significantly to the sugar industry, completing a full year of grinding and becoming an equal member of the sugar fraternity.
Singh noted that Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha would announce the production targets and achievements for 2023 early in the new year.
The Rose Hall estate, which underwent a six-week trial reopening in September, has already crushed around 14,500 tonnes of sugarcane, confirming its mechanical reliability.
The impact of reopening Rose Hall is evident in the employment opportunities it created, with 560 persons hired this year alone and a total of over 1400 individuals benefiting, according to Singh.
The Rose Hall estate, closed in 2017, required substantial rehabilitation efforts.
Over 9000 moving parts had to be replaced, and a mechanical reliability study was conducted.
The government allocated over 1.1 billion dollars in the 2023 budget for the estate’s reopening and an additional 1.5 billion dollars in supplementary funding for the rehabilitation of lands across various estates.
With these initiatives, GuySuCo aims to contribute to increased sugar production, supporting both the industry and local communities.