Hardly anyone can deny that the sugar industry has made a significant contribution to the development of several parishes in western Jamaica.

During the last sugar crop, for example, Westmoreland’s Frome Sugar Estate, which earned more than $2 billion from its operations, pumped an estimated $35 million weekly into the local economy.

At present, the estate which is the largest single employer of labour in the parish, employs roughly 2,000 persons during the cropping season, while the 1,700 farmers who supply canes to the factory employ a similar number.

Additionally, the sector is said to have provided indirect employment to more than 45,000 persons in the parish.

It is against this background that businesses, farmers…….. just about everybody in Westmoreland look forward to the start of the sugar crop each season– and this year is no different.

Already the entire parish is hoping that the 2009/2010 sugar crop at the Frome Estate which is just in its first week will be very productive.

It is hoped that the factory will produce some 43,000 tonnes of sugar during the roughly four month long crop– an increase of 6,000 tonnes over last year’s production.

But this feat can only be achieved if there is not a repeat of the wanton burning of canes that have been plaguing the Frome estate and cane farmers in recent years.

Between 2004 and 2008 there were 2,000 illicit cane fires, resulting in the loss of more than 450,000 tonnes of cane.

And last crop the Frome factory was unable to process more than 100,000 tonnes of canes due to illicit fires.

Industry players estimate that the estate lost close to $500 million during 2008/2009, as a result of such fires.

Thankfully though, so far this year there have been no reports of such fires.

Industry players have long argued that the illicit burning of canes could wipe out the sugar industry and have in the past embarked on a raft of initiatives to deter the arsonists.

It is hoped that the initiatives are finally bearing fruit and the Frome crop will not be affected by the wanton burning of canes this season.

The sugar industry is too vital to the Westmoreland economy for it to be left to the mercy of arsonists.