BSTA expresses its hope for sugar cane industry

THE Barbados Society of Technologists in Agriculture (BSTA) is hoping that the recently published book on farming sugar cane will assist in the redevelopment and rebirth of a strong, vibrant and economically viable sugar cane industry in Barbados.

Jacklyn Broomes, Vice President of the BSTA, expressed this wish recently, as the Society and the Agronomy Research and Variety Testing Unit (ARVTU) of the Barbados Agricultural Management Company Ltd., teamed up to launch the book entitled ‘Sugar Cane Farming in Barbados’, at the ARVTU at Groves in St. George.

The book is authored by Dr. Sandra Bellamy, who serves as Head of the ARVTU, along with co-author Gerald Proverbs.

Speaking during the book launch, Broomes noted that by having a strong, vibrant sugar cane industry, the industry would then be capable of providing support to the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors of Barbados. She also expressed her hope that the same could be done for other crops.

In giving a brief history of the BSTA, Broomes noted that the Society arose out of the Barbados Sugar Technologists Association, which was founded in 1939. The mandate of that Association, she said, was to share technical information on all aspects of the sugar industry, from field to factory. With the name change to the BSTA in 1990, the focus was widened to include non-sugar crops like food crops, vegetables and cotton.

“Some of the major objectives of the BSTA are to discuss matters concerning agriculture, to disseminate information to its members and to offer advice to the Government and other interested agencies,” Broomes explained.

“Many years ago the BSTA, recognising that the sugar industry was in decline, publicly indicated the need to shift the sugar industry away from the export of raw sugar and to reduce the production costs of sugar, by improving efficiency, in both the factory and field operations,” she added.

“BSTA proposed a series of Think Tanks on the field aspect of the industry, in an effort to improve yields through improved agronomic practices… The Think Tanks brought together growers, as well as professionals in a number of areas, to discuss experiences and to suggest improvements which could be implemented,” she continued.

“The information from the Think Tanks formed the basis of the book being launched … but it was expanded to include some history of the industry and so produce a more comprehensive documentary to the local industry,” Broomes said of the book’s origins. (RSM)