$2.4 Billion Allocated to Sugar Transformation Project

The Sugar Transformation Project has received an allocation of $2.4 billion in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

Of the sum, some $850 million has been allocated for Cane Expansion Activities, including the planting/replanting of a minimum of 1,300 hectares of sugar cane, and the rehabilitation of 80 kilometres of cane roads.

There will also be support for capacity building projects of the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA), and the Sugar Industry Research Institute (SIRI), enabling the entities to deliver full service to the sugar sector; the establishment of a 10-acre green cane harvesting demonstration plot, as well as the installation of drip irrigation systems in a minimum of 300 hectares of sugar cane fields.

The Sugar Area Dependent Programme has been given $950 million of the total, to provide training for at least 600 persons, and commence training of a second cohort of 600 persons by HEART/NTA in housekeeping/hospitality, small equipment repair, business skills, and other skill areas.

Beneficiaries will be assisted under the Training Fund, to establish/improve 40 small enterprises in the communities classified as sugar dependent.

The objectives of the project are: to develop a sustainable private sector-led sugar industry by 2015; and to co-ordinate the smooth and effective implementation of the Jamaica Country Strategy for the Adaptation of the Sugar Industry 2006 to 2020.

The project is being funded by the Government of Jamaica.