Pan-Caribbean to sell sugar on behalf of cane farmers
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The All Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association has signed an agreement with Pan-Caribbean Sugar Company, authorising the Chinese-based firm to sell sugar and molasses on behalf of the farmers, and to establish a pricing regime.
Under the agreement, the farmers, represented by the association and trading under the name, All Cane, have legally granted permission to Pan-Caribbean to sell sugar and molasses produced from cane delivered to their factories on the farmers’ behalf.
Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, who participated in the signing ceremony held Wednesday at the ministry’s Hope Road offices, said that pricing has been agreed on among the parties, and is in keeping with the existing cane payment formula.
“As we seek to modernise the sector and to increase production and productivity, this represents another necessary step within the regulatory and legal framework,” said Clarke.
In August 2011, the government divested its sugar assets to Chinese firm, Complant International Sugar Industry Limited, which is locally represented by Pan-Caribbean.
The company is the registered owner of Frome and Monymusk sugar factories, and has been appointed under the Sugar Industry Control Act, to market the sugar and molasses produced at its factories, locally, and overseas.
Clarke said the sugar industry continues to make a major contribution to the economy, directly employing more than 35,000 farmers, which is 18 per cent of the employment rate in the agricultural sector.
“The sugar sector earned or saved an estimated US$109.7 million in the 2012/13 crop year…as such, sugar is still the largest foreign exchange earner in the agricultural sector,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pan-Caribbean, Dr Huaixiang Wu, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing that the company is committed to the local sugar industry.
Chairman of the All Island Jamaica Cane Farmers’ Association, Allan Rickards, expressed confidence in the agreement, stressing that he expected the partnership to thrive.
