WESTERN BUREAU – The management of the Hampden estate in Trelawny has put in place additional measures to minimise the number of illicit cane fires at the estate during this year’s sugar crop.

“We are putting in additional patrols of the cane fields, an increase in the number of water tanks and we have been meeting with the various communities in the vicinity of the estate to make them aware of the negative effects of illicit fires,” general manager, Maurice Jackson, said.

In addition to these measures, he said meetings have been held with the Hampden Cane Farmers’ Association, the police and the political representatives in the area.

Over the years, the Hampden estate has been plagued by a number of illicit cane fires which have caused the estate to lose millions of dollars.

During the 2000 sugar crop, Hampden estate lost an estimated 8,000 tonnes of canes as a result of illicit cane fires. However, the amount was significantly reduced to 1,000 tonnes during the 2001 crop, after the company launched a major drive against the illicit burning of cane.

On Monday, the estate lost an estimated 40 acres of cane valued at over $1.5 million due to fire.

According to Jackson, that acreage would have produced about 900 tonnes of canes or about eight tonnes of sugar.

Some of the affected cane was, however, reaped and sent to the Long Pond Sugar Company, a distance of 20 miles while Hampden plans to process another portion of the product.

Jackson, however, maintained that Monday’s loss would not significantly affect the projected target of 8,000 tonnes of sugar for the 2002 crop.

“Monday’s fire would not affect the crop, however, if we have more illicit fires, the crop should be significantly affected,” Jackson explained.

Last crop, Hampden produced just over 7,000 tonnes of sugar.