So what all dem estate people have to say? I think Gil might have some input. Do we plant a lower grade sugar cane, for example?
VP, offhand, I don't have concrete numbers, but I can give you a general idea. In Guyana, the sucrose content of sugar cane is generally lower than the sucrose content of Cuban cane, for example. More canes are required to produce one ton of sugar in Guyana. More canes means more cane-cutters. With a vibrant trade union like GAWU, cane cutters' wages and bonuses are always increasing, which means higher labour costs. Add to that even higher managerial costs, and GuySuCo's production costs become a burden. Not to mention mostly outdated factory plant and equipment which are inefficient. All of which have left GuySuCo with a $90 billion debt.
As I'm on the subject of sugar, I recall reading in the mid-1970s a great study of the sugar industry by Dr Clive Thomas. Even then, production costs were high, ie, before nationalization.
One more thing. I don't know if the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund still exists. In the past, a percentage of sugar revenue was allocated by law to the SILWF, adding to production costs.
Why is the sucrose content low compared to Cuba?
One factor is the nature of the Guyana coastal soil. Sugar cane fields guzzle mega-tons of fertilizer, yet the cane plants can't achieve desired sucrose content.
What about drainage and irrigation costs...are those major factors?
Like that other fella, I could tell you to do your own research, but I like to share my knowledge. Naturally, all those costs must be factored in, but I don't have the hard data.
Look, dey can do all deh want at the fields-only so much dey can do to get the sucrose up. Once the cane is chopped, it is a hustle to get it processed. In the centuries past, dem baccras know this. Sugar is sweet as sin-dats why so much sinful practices were employed to get the sugar made fuh cheap. You all know bout slaves, indentured and how black people think that the coolies come and tek away dem wuk for cheap wages. It all gat to do with making sugar cheap.
In modern times, the same. Once the cane is cut, it has to get to the scales and into the knife house for chop up. Now, at that station. If the carrier are faulty-juice is being throw away, at a rapid rate.
Then, onto the Rollers-another area of loosing quantities juice.
Maintanance -very important. Weekend shut downsto achieve optimum efficiency. I do not think it happening.
Every sugar factory have to standards any more_Forbes had stupidtek over when Booker leff.
Pan-boiling is anoth area where sugar quality is compromised.
So many area causing low yields-Clarifiers, crytalizers and some many things.
An inefficient factory WILL certainly increase your production cost.
And that is where I suspect where the problem IS.
Manufacturing has the same principles no matter whatever you are manufacturing.
I doan think outside help will do anything for the sugar industry. The equipment are old. And have no standards. When I worked as an Assisant to the Chief Engineer, before a spare was made, I had to go back to the oroginal blueprint. Quality Control. Dey doan have dat in guyana anymoh. THat is how the floods starts-no QC.
Seems like you know your stuff. What's this "If the carrier are faulty-juice is being throw away, at a rapid rate." What is the carrier? Carries liquid?