More rains - more sugarcane in Mauritius

At the end of March, the average total height of the sugarcane was at 96 per cent, it is better compared to February when it was 81 per cent and January 64 per cent). The elongation of the sugarcane was noteworthy during March with an average of 60 cm of growth. This was stated by Jocelyn Kwok, secretary general of the Chamber of Agriculture.

“The accumulated rainfall since October 2010 now amounts to 1239 mm, that is 103 per cent of the long-term average, but still remains deficient compared to the same period of last year, when where it amounted to 1749 mm, that is 146 per cent of the long-term average,” said Kwok. “Nevertheless, it is certain that the harvest of 2011 will not be the same size as that of 2010 but still from the beginning of year we have seen an improvement”, he said.

Sugarcane growth is expected to continue throughout April with an improvement of 90 per cent as compared to 2010 if weather conditions remain favourable, stated Kwok. Thus sugarcane growth will continue throughout May until the end of the harvest in November.

The Chamber of Agriculture will regularly monitor the situation and again meet with the parties concerned at the end of May.

Like previous years, the first official estimate of the sugar harvest campaign 2011 will be determined around this date.