Source:http://www.guyana.org/govt/robertson_report.pdf
10. By far the most important crop is sugar which, with its by-products, accounts for more than half the Colony's exports. All about 2 per cent. Of the cane is grown on 17 large plantations owned by limited companies, one of which has a controlling interest in the majority of the
plantations.
The incidence of two dry and two wet seasons in British Guiana gives the industry the advantage of being able to reap twice a year, and cane yield per acre is comparable or superior to that of the estates in other parts of the West Indies which have only one harvest period. But the climate favours growth rather than maturity, so that sucrose content is inferior and it takes 10 to 12 tons of cane to make a ton of sugar in British Guiana, as compared with 7 to 9 tons in other areas.
We understand that the cost to the companies of maintaining drainage and irrigation systems amounts, on some estates, to as much as ,1. 15s. for each ton of sugar produced and with this further handicap it is not surprising that production costs are high.
The industry is,however, assured of a market at prices fixed under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement signed in 1951. Under this Agreement, which will remain in force until at least 1961,British Guiana is guaranteed a market for about 75 per cent. of her sugar exports at a price negotiated in 1950 and reviewed annually in the light of changes in production costs. The total production of raw sugar in 1952 was 242,692 tons, of which about 167,000 tons were exported under the Agreement at a negotiated price substantially higher than that prevailing in the world market.
The remainder was either sold locally or exported to the United Kingdom and Canada at world market prices plus preference. In their Report on the Economic Development of British Guiana the International Bank Mission endorsed the general view of the sugar producers that
expansion of production in the Colony beyond 275,000 tons per anum would, for a number of reasons, be uneconomic.
The cost of production was known,currently the amount of cane to produce a ton of sugar have increased, the past governments should have started diversification in this industry.
The current government will be trying to make this industry more viable,tough road ahead they are being accused of penalizing the people of this industry who are supporters of the opposition party the PPP/C.
