-by Celestine Chacon

President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union, Seepaul Narine, is optimistic that Guysuco can meet its revised sugar production target of more than 51,000 tonnes for 2026.

He made this disclosure during an exclusive interview with NCN news.
GuySuCo had initially set a target of 100,000 tonnes, but excessive rainfall forced a downward revision.

“Early in the year we had some excessive rain and as a result you had some damage to cultivation mainly at Albion and then you had some factory problems, when they relook at it and take everything into consideration they reduced the target to 51,400,” he explained.

Despite the setback, Narine says the revised target remains realistic and achievable, noting that first-crop production was 19 percent higher than the corresponding period last year.

However, he identified the expected prolonged dry season as a major risk.

“Based on the canes on the ground, I’m very optimistic that we could achieve the target. The only thing I’m seeing as a danger ahead is the long dry season, and this could affect your water levels. If your canes don’t have water, then they could be stunted in growth,” he said.

Narine explained that production for the second crop has started positively, with Rose Hall Estate commencing operations and meeting its weekly production target, resulting in workers receiving a day’s pay as incentive.

The Albion and Rose Hall estates are expected to produce a combined 32,238 tonnes, while Blairmont is expected to produce 10,224 tonnes and Uitvlugt 8,908 tonnes.