At least two private sugar cane planters started reaping canes yesterday at the official start of the harvest season.
Farm manager at Drax Hall Plantation, Phillip Whitehead, said he started harvesting around 10 a.m. in St George and had reaped about 20 tonnes of cane, which were delivered to the Bulkeley trans-loading station also in St George, and eventually to Portvale Factory in St James.
He said while he lost six acres of cane to fire, 311 acres were in production and he anticipated reaping 7 000 tonnes, a slight increase from last year’s yield of 6 884 from 288 acres.
Richard Armstrong, of Armag Farms Ltd, was the other planter harvesting canes. From 35 acres in Colleton, St John, and a few in Hampton, St Philip, he expects to reap about 50 tonnes. However, this will be his last time harvesting cane for sugar production as he is planning to fully utilise the 600 acres he has responsibility for to plant a high-fibre cane for a special biomass project. (SB)
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