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And while sugar prices are up, the industry is under threat from an agricultural pest.

Recently, a fungal infection among several crops of sugarcane was detected in the Corozal district, where up to three quarters of a plantation was affected.

BSI has already commenced a validation analysis to see how many fields have been affected and then from there they will know what control measures need to be implemented. Here's more:

Shaun Chavarria, Director of Finance, BSI
"That is something that we are still working with stakeholders. A task force has been created with all the different stakeholders including BAHA, CARDI everyone is giving it its full support given the sense of urgency behind this. We are trying to assist in bringing experts who are in soil nutrition and also disease so we are trying to help with that. The key is to try and find out the strain or the genus of this disease and once we know that then we are able to make recommendations to farmers on what is the control measures that need to be put into place and what biological control or formulas they need to do and so that is the step we are currently doing . We are gathering the samples to send them abroad to do that analysis so that we can then make technical recommendations to farmers to implement these measures because it is something that is really concerning at this point. The initial feedback is that this is being seen across the border as well so it is not something that is affecting our industry but we need to ensure that we try as much as possible to minimize its spread."