The contacts of the mobilized cane planters are bending over backwards, with a view to a rapid end to the crisis, while the farmers are still blocking access to Jarry. The collective, which demands an increase in their remuneration, is studying the proposals made this Friday, during a meeting at the initiative of public institutions. In the event of agreement, the sugar campaign will be able to take place without hindrance.
“The harvest could resume on Sunday. concluded Wilhem Monrose, the President of the Kolèktif des Agriculteurs (KDA), this Friday, April 26, 2024, during the meeting organized by public institutions. Everyone hopes to find common ground and put an end to the crisis which is paralyzing the cane sector in Guadeloupe; especially since the mobilization of producers impacts the local economy and many Guadeloupeans.
But the proposals made today must still be put in writing, for communication to the members of the association at the origin of the discontent and their supporters. They will decide together.
The leaders of the cane planters took stock with the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (DAAF). A 12-article memorandum of understanding was drawn up. It is this document which must be submitted to the planters installed on the Jarry dams; they currently communicate by Whatsapp and by telephone. There is a desire to sign… but some disagreements persist at this time.
They all came to the Raizet regional space : the prefect Xavier Lefort, the president of the Guadeloupe Region Ary Chalus, the vice-president of the Department Blaise Mornal, the director of the sugar factory Gardel Nicolas Philippot, the representatives of mobilized cane planters and several experts.
The crux of the problem is the price of a tonne of cane, which depends on the saccharimetric richness of the production. The pricing currently applied, according to the terms of the 2023-2028 Cane Convention signed in April 2023, does not allow planters to settle their debts and meet their needs, according to these professionals.
However, after decades, the remuneration per tonne of cane going to the planter has suffered a “unprecedented increase of 30%” said the prefect: she was increased to a maximum of €109 in Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre and €99.59 in Marie-Galante, with this new agreement. But inflation has been there, at the same time ; input prices, in particular, have exploded.
On March 26, they lowered their requirements. They are today demanding a floor price of €120/tonne of cane and that the minimum wealth measured at 7 be paid at the value of 9 (this gives the right to a maximum payment), at least for this year, where the season has already been cut by two months.
This is their latest proposal. Without an agreement, they promise a blank year and perhaps even the end of cane production in Guadeloupe.
The important thing today is that we find a solution.
Roméo Meynard, president of SICA UDCAG, involved in the revolt
Roméo Meynard was the guest of the 7:00 a.m. radio news from Guadeloupe la 1timethis Friday morning :
Roméo Meynard, guest of the 7:00 a.m. radio news on Guadeloupe La 1ère
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We need to do the work to be able to sign a clear and clear agreement, with a new economic model, so (as I have always said) that the planter can live from his harvest.
Ary Chalus, president of the Guadeloupe Region
We have beaten around the bush enough.
Xavier Lefort, prefect of Guadeloupe
There is a sharp deterioration in Gardel’s accounts this year. We started with a net result of 5 million, which has now melted like snow in the sun and which, today, is approaching 1 million and which, dangerously, is approaching zero.
Nicolas Philippot, general director of the Gardel sugar factory, in Moule
Extract from Nicolas Philippot’s statement during this Friday’s meeting
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The figures came out during the meeting. By dint of calculations, the parties, in particular the State services, believe they can arrive at an objective which will satisfy everyone.
A suspension of the session was necessary so that KDA members and their supporters could verify this.
The State will once again put its hand in its pocket, by paying an additional 900,000 euros, to compensate for the saccharine low wealth.
Gardel adds 500,000 euros.
The necessary envelope is supplemented by the regional (€500,000) and departmental (€250,000) authorities.
During the day, at best, Guadeloupe will know if economic and social life can resume its normal course.
The 2024 sugar campaign should have been in full swing since the 1er last March.