FROME, Westmoreland — THE Sugar Transformation Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries plans to spend $3 billion over the next three years to more than triple sugar cane production across the island.

“We will be looking at producing five million tonnes of cane by the end of the 2015 crop, with a mix of products to include raw sugar, refined sugar, molasses, rum, ethanol, and co-generation,” he added.

The 2010/2011 crop is expected to yield over 1.5 million tonnes of sugar cane.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Dr Christopher Tufton made the disclosure at a press conference held at the Frome Estate on Monday to update the country on the status of the divestment of state-owned sugar assets.

According to Tufton, a multi-billion injection of funds in the sugar sector will be made through a raft of interventions.

“The funds will be used to revive cane production in sugar-dependent areas, through low interest loans for planting and replanting of cane; for provision of land preparation and harvesting equipment and for rehabilitation existing irrigation systems and the instalation on on- form drip irrigation,” Tufton told reporters.

He added that the government is committed in making available all its accessible lands to cane farmers, whether big or small, pointing out that through the National Irrigation Commission, it has started a process to encourage farmers to cane farming.

“In that regard, those cane farmers who had leased lands from the Government, their lease will be offered to them for renewal. The critical criteria being that the lands are kept in cane production because it is important to ensure that the factory has the throughput to ensure a viable industry,” Tufton explained.

Since the divestment of the five state-run sugar factories, there has been a renewed interest in sugar cane cultivation.

In fact, over the past two years, more than 4,000 hectares of lands have been brought under sugar cane production.

Meanwhile, Tufton said he is encouraged by the level of sugar production so far, during the 2010/2011 crop.

“Production of sugar is about 100,000 tonnes to date, from 1.1 million tonnes of cane at a TC/TS of 10.63. This compares with 96,000 tonnes from 1.1 million tonnes of cane at a TC/TS of 10.97 last crop,” he told reporters.

It is projected that the industry will produce 157,000 tonnes of the sweetener this crop, compared to 126,000 tonnes last year.

The agriculture and fisheries minister noted that the Government is taking the necessary steps to adjust the policy, institutional and regulatory framework to realise the Government’s objective for a commercial viable sugar industry.

“In this regard, the recommendations of the Sugar Industry Enquiry Commission, as approved by Cabinet, are being implemented,” he noted.