The climatic condition prevailing since last year has had a negative impact on sugarcane cultivation. As a result, instead of producing around 450,000 tonnes of sugar for the harvest year 2011-2012, major players of the industry, which remains the backbone of the economy, say that the drought has adversely affected harvest and only 400,000 to [...]

The climatic condition prevailing since last year has had a negative impact on sugarcane cultivation.

As a result, instead of producing around 450,000 tonnes of sugar for the harvest year 2011-2012, major players of the industry, which remains the backbone of the economy, say that the drought has adversely affected harvest and only 400,000 to 410,000 tonnes can be expected for the next season which starts in June.

This was also confirmed by Gunsham Boodram, chairman of the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate (MSS).

“The drought will definitely affect us. There will be around 50,000 tonnes less sugar this year. Many factors, such as the dry month of January, have affected production.”

He added, “For the harvest 2010-2011, we had around 452,518 tonnes of sugar, resulting from the 4.36 million tonnes of sugarcane.”

Jean-Noël Humbert, chief executive of the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate said that the drought will definitely affect the next harvest which begins in June.

“Until the end of January, we did not get heavy rainfall across the country. Though we did get rainfall by the end, it was not enough. The first part of the season started poorly and there was a delay in growth. The situation has improved but the problem persists.”

Salil Roy also said that climatic condition has affected the island. “Fortunately there was rainfall in February but I do not think it will be enough. The harvest will not be the same. Regarding the measures, we are still waiting for the decrease in CESS. It is unacceptable to pay only Rs 7 per tonne of bagasse,” he said.

Another reason for the reduced production is that the average total area harvested has decreased.

Between 2006 and 2008, the cultivated area was 2354 hectares. This fell to 1644 and 1625 hectares respectively in 2009 and 2010.

A plan for sugar was prepared in consultation with all stakeholders, namely government bodies, private sector, civil society and NGOs, which was submitted to the European Union (EU).

The document defines the resources that Mauritius has the right over, under the measures for the Sugar Protocol for the period 2011-2013.