Sugarcane Conflict: Government, Communities and Cartel Financial Efforts to End the Crisis

“Harvesting can begin on Sunday. This Friday, April 26, 2024, concluded Eugène Mardivirin, one of the spokespersons of the Kolèktif des Agriculteurs (KDA), during a meeting organized by public institutions. All find common ground and hope to end the crisis that is crippling the sugar cane sector in Guadeloupe; The mobilization of producers in particular affects the local economy and many Guadeloupeans.

But the proposals made today to communicate to disaffected union members and their supporters should still be put in writing. They will decide together.

Leaders of sugarcane planters participated in the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (DAAF). A 12-article MoU was drawn up. This document should be submitted to planters established in Jari dams; They currently communicate through WhatsApp and phone. Willingness to sign…but some disagreements persist at this time.

All of them came to Raiset regional place : Prefect Xavier Lefort, President of the Guadeloupe Region Ary Chales, Vice President of the Department Blaise Mornel, Director of the Sugar Factory Cordel Nicolas Philippe, representatives of the mobilized sugarcane planters and many experts.

The crux of the problem is the cost per ton of sugarcane, which depends on the saccharimetric richness of the product. According to these experts, the price currently used as per the terms of the 2023-2028 sugarcane convention signed in April 2023 does not allow planters to settle their debts and meet their needs.
However, decades later, the wages paid to a tonne of sugarcane planter have suffered.An unprecedented 30% increase” The governor said: She With this new deal, the maximum has increased to €109 in Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre and €99.59 in Marie-Galante. But at the same time there is inflation ; Input prices, in particular, exploded.

On March 26, they lowered their demands. They are asking for a floor price of €120 per tonne of cane today, and a minimum property value of 9 (entitled to the maximum payment) measured at 7, which has already been reduced by two months of the season, at least this year.
This is their latest proposal. Without an agreement, they are guaranteed a blank year and even the end of sugar cane production in Guadeloupe.

It is important that we find a solution today.

Romeo Maynard, president of SICA UDCAG, joined the agitation

Romeo Maynard was the guest for the radio news at 7:00 am from Guadeloupe la 1.^TimeThis Friday morning :

Roméo Meynard is the guest of the 7:00 am radio news in Guadeloupe La 1ère

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©Florence Péroumal – Guadeloupe La 1ère

We need to do the work of signing a clear and unambiguous contract with a new economic model, so (as I always say) the gardener can live off his harvest.

Ari Salles, president of the Guadeloupe region

We've beaten around the bush enough.

Xavier Lefort, principal of Guadeloupe

There has been a sharp decline in the cartel's accounts this year. We started with a net result of 5 million, which has now melted like ice in the sun and today is approaching 1 million, dangerously close to zero.

Nicolas Philippot, general director of the Cartel sugar factory in Maule

Taken from Nicholas Philippot's statement during this Friday's meeting

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©François-Joseph Ousselin – Guadeloupe La 1ère

Statistics were released during this meeting. Based on the calculations, the parties, especially the government services, believe that they can achieve an objective that satisfies everyone.
It is necessary to suspend the session so that KDA members and their supporters can verify this.

By paying an extra €900,000 the government will put its hand back into its pocket.
The cartel adds 500,000 euros.
The required envelope is supplemented by regional (€500,000) and sectoral (€250,000) authorities.

During the day, Guadalupe will learn whether economic and social life can resume its normal course.

2024 Sugar Campaign 1 must have been in full swing^{There is} Last March.