By Belize Live News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño has confirmed what many in the north have feared for months: Belize is facing one of the worst sugar crops in decades. The culprit? Fusarium Wilt, a devastating plant disease that has wiped out large portions of cane fields and delivered a crushing blow to the nation’s cane farmers.
Speaking to reporters this week, Briceño did not mince words. “This year’s crop is one of the worst in recent memory,” he said, noting the challenges growers have faced due to the spread of the disease and compounding environmental pressures.
Belize Sugar Industries (BSI) backed the Prime Minister’s assessment, with Director of Finance Sean Chavarria calling it “one of the worst-performing seasons in over 30 years.” According to BSI’s data, the total cane received stood just under 884,000 metric tons—a historic low. Even more alarming is the tons-of-cane to tons-of-sugar (TCTS) ratio, which hovered between 11.1 and 11.2, marking one of the most inefficient harvests since the 2010 crop.
Sugar production is projected to fall below 79,000 metric tons, a figure not seen since 2008. That would make this one of the lowest-yielding seasons in nearly four decades, raising urgent concerns for the thousands of farmers and workers who rely on the sugar industry to feed their families.
BSI officials have pledged to work with stakeholders on a recovery plan. However, without swift intervention, the future of Belize’s sugar belt could be in jeopardy.
