Guyana sugar company records reasonable first crop for 2010

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

The state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) says despite the prolonged dry spell it has recorded "a reasonable" first crop for 2010.

Figures released by GUYSUCO show that production reached 81,684 tonnes of sugar, short of the target of 91,675 tonnes.

"This achievement represents 89.3 per cent of the corporation's target. Significant successes were also achieved in the industry's refurbishment plan, which includes tillage and planting," GUYSUCO said in a statement.

But the company, while not disclosing the dollar value of the sugar produced, said that "depreciation in the value of the euro is at present a matter of great concern - since a significant percentage of the industry's production is shipped to Europe".

GUYSUCO said that the first crop of the year had also been affected by water and electricity shortages and that the Hall and Enmore factories experienced the most significant shortfalls in production since they were the worst affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

"Due to limited availability of water, particularly at Enmore, irrigation had to be restricted and was concentrated mainly in supplying water in canals for cane transport and, to a lesser extent, keeping young cane plants alive."