• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 05 / 12 / 2011

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By Patricia Grogg. HAVANA, May 11, 2011 (Tierramérica) - Cuba hopes to revive its sugar industry as part of the recently announced economic changes and take advantage of good international prices for what was once the Caribbean island’s main export.

After a disastrous harvest in 2010, Cuba met its target for the current harvest several weeks ahead of schedule, although official media have not released specific figures. Specialists estimate that the goal for this year was 1.2 million tons.

A total of 39 sugar mills were in operation this season, and a dozen were kept running in April and some even into early May. "They will keep working for as long as efficiency permits," Ministry of Sugar spokesman Liobel Pérez told Tierramérica. "All in all, this harvest has been very positive," he added.

In comparison with last year, industrial and agricultural output has improved, costs were lower than planned, and inputs and resources arrived when they were needed. "The potential is huge. The policy now is to take maximum advantage of the installed capacity," said Pérez, the communications director for the ministry.

The sector seems to be bouncing back after touching rock bottom. The 2010 harvest was the worst in 100 years. At the time, state media outlets blamed the disaster on poor planning policies, obstinacy and a lack of control, as well as the error of compromising the development of the industry by milling sugar reserved for the next season.

The strategy to revive the sugar industry, which was once the driving force of the Cuban economy, includes expanding the area under sugar cane cultivation from the current 750,000 hectares to over a million hectares, according to a researcher on the subject who asked to remain anonymous.

"Resources should also been invested in repairing equipment, since the poor condition of the equipment in use tends to cause frequent interruptions during the harvest. Failing to make these investments would be a huge mistake," he added. In any event, this point is included in the economic and social policy document approved at the sixth congress of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba, held in April.

According to the policy document, the primary objective of the sugar industry will be to increase sugar cane production.

Source: www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=55586