The sugar crop season is scheduled to start next week Monday January 20.  The decision by both BSI and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association follows the signing of an interim agreement Monday evening in Orange Walk Town.

The interim agreement comes after a long back and forth process of consultation by both stake holders and negotiations between the two.  After the signing of the interim agreement BSI’s CEO Jose Montalvo spoke with the media and explained that now it’s all about taking the industry forward.

 

 

BSCFA’s Alfredo Ortega said the interim agreement now serves as the binding document that will ensure payment for bagasse.

Getting to this point wasn’t easy as cane farmers felt BSI does not intend to pay for bagasse and was only playing games for them to get frustrated and eventually give up.  Montalvo said it is not so.

Initially BSI took the position to not make any payment for bagasse but in the course of two months it changed position and now legally compromised to doing so.  Montalvo said getting here wasn’t that easy.

BSI and BSCFA will not meet again with two to three weeks to start the negotiations for the quantum to be paid for bagasse to each cane farmer.   It is hoped that negotiations can conclude before the end of the harvest and delivery season this year.