A statement from the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC) said the three existing factories - Andrews, Bulkeley and Portvale -will start grinding operations on February 13.
The crop, which is due to last 14 weeks, is expected to harvest 21 000 acres of cane, milling 470 ,000 metric tonnes.
"Of the sugar produced, 50 633 tonnes will be shipped to Europe. This quantum of sugar will enable Barbados to satisfy its quota requirement to the European Union (EU)," BAMC said.
The price of sugar to be shipped to Europe this year remains unchanged from the year 2O00 price of 523.70 euros per tonne.
"The goal of the BAMC in the short, medium and long term will be to narrow the gap between the cost of producing a tonne of sugar and the price received for that sugar. Various initiatives that could lead to the realisation of this goal are currently under review," the corporation noted.
In December 2000 and January of this year to date, fire has destroyed 1.81 acres of cane with a resultant loss of 46 tonnes of cane. (CANA)
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001(est) | |
| AREA HARVESTED | 20 756 | 21 003 | 21 312 | 21 000 |
| SUGAR CANE MILLED (metric tonnes) | 448 700 | 521 900 | 537 600 | 470 000 |
| SUGAR PRODUCTION (metric tonnes) | 48 000 | 53 200 | 58 373 | 51 500 |
| AVERAGE YIELD | 9.4 | 9.8 | 9.2 | 9.11 |