The commencement of the annual sugar harvest is confronting significant operational delays, with industry authorities now projecting a mid-January start date. This postponement stems from a confluence of logistical challenges affecting both industrial infrastructure and transportation networks.
Central to the delay are protracted maintenance operations at the primary processing facility. Initial projections from mill engineers in late October indicated completion by the first week of December, with subsequent steam trials scheduled to facilitate an immediate harvest initiation. However, supply chain complications have extended the maintenance timeline, with completion now anticipated for the first week of January.
Concurrently, critical infrastructure improvements have been hampered by meteorological conditions. Roadway maintenance contracts finalized with government contractors in late October have encountered repeated weather-related interruptions. Persistent precipitation has created unfavorable field conditions, preventing contractors from initiating essential repairs to the transportation network vital for crop movement.
Marcos Osorio, Chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board, maintains an optimistic outlook despite these challenges. “We’re confronting operational hurdles, but the industry’s fundamental strength remains intact,” Osorio stated. The revised schedule now anticipates steam trials immediately following January maintenance completion, with crop processing commencing approximately one week thereafter, assuming favorable operational conditions.
The industry’s resilience is being tested by these dual challenges, though leadership expresses confidence in achieving strong seasonal results despite the compressed timeframe.