Sugar crop to begin soon despite unseasonal rainfall

With acres of sugarcane ripening across the island, the 2025 sugar cane harvest is set to begin on Monday, March 3, top industry officials have confirmed. The early start comes despite concerns over unusual rain patterns that may impact the harvest.

The Government’s Senior Economic Advisor Ambassador Clyde Mascoll told Barbados TODAY that industry experts decided on the March start date based on the latest Brix test results. 

“The harvest is going to start on March 3, based on the Brix, which is the calculation of the sugar content, as well as the rainfall. We needed the fields to dry out; you would appreciate that we have been getting some unusual rainfall but we are starting way earlier,” he said.

Last year’s harvest began late in March, making this year’s start notably earlier.

This year’s annual survey of Brix levels — a measurement of the sugar content in cane juice — confirms a steady increase in Brix levels from 15.1 in December to 20.2 this month, aligning with expected ripening patterns. The survey, prepared by Jacklyn Broomes, research manager at the Agronomy Research Department and obtained by Barbados TODAY, provides essential insights into sugar cane ripening trends, reaffirming the importance of strategic harvest timing in maximising sugar recovery and industry efficiency.

The survey revealed rainfall’s significant influence on cane ripening, with higher precipitation delaying sugar accumulation as the canes absorbed more water. The intermediate rainfall zone recorded the highest Brix level of 20.8, whereas the high rainfall zone lagged behind at 19.7, highlighting how varying climatic conditions shape the quality of the crop.

Varietal selection remains a decisive factor in sugar yield, with the survey identifying B77602 as the top performer, reaching a Brix level of 22.2. In contrast, B80689 recorded the lowest Brix level at 17.3, reinforcing the need for strategic crop selection. The industry-standard B89447 and B82238 varieties achieved Brix levels of 20.9 and 20.0, confirming their continued reliability for sugar production.

The results of this test will have significant implications for farmers, mill operators, and the wider sugar industry. They include:

Higher sugar recovery – Timely harvesting ensures better extraction rates, increasing overall profitability.

Rum and fermentation quality – Higher Brix levels improve alcohol yield, benefiting Barbados’ world-renowned rum sector.

Fair pricing for farmers – Payment structures are linked to sugar content, making Brix monitoring essential for equitable pricing.

– Knowing the sugar concentration in advance allows mills to adjust extraction techniques, minimising waste.

Farmers under the Barbados Sugar Industry Limited banner — the rump group of traditional sugar planters — are expected to produce 66 300 tonnes of cane this year. Last year, the island produced 101 445 tonnes of cane in a historic harvest for an industry now under the control of worker-owned cooperatives.

The Barbados Sustainable Energy Cooperative Society Ltd (CoopEnergy Barbados) took over the milling business of the Barbados Agricultural Management Inc., on January 15 and set up two subsidiary companies.

The Agricultural Business Company Ltd (ABC), based at Bulkeley, St George, oversees more than 4 000 acres of farmland while the Barbados Energy and Sugar Company Inc., (BESCO) manages the island’s last working factory, Portvale.

Most of the sugar Portvale produces is for domestic consumption and the rest is exported. 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb