Background
Booker Tate was formed in 1988 by a merger of Booker PLC and Tate
and Lyle's sugarcane management and consultancy divisions. Both
companies' expertise in plantation crops was built from over 100
years experience of sugarcane production in the West Indies. During
the 1960's the two divisions very successfully branched out into
the development of new plantations and sugar mills for clients
(mainly parastatal businesses) in Africa and Asia, together with
the provision of management and consultancy services to existing
sugar enterprises. Recruitment and training of local staff to
enable them to replace expatriates has always been a key part of
these operations.
Other crops
In the 1980's, Booker Tate diversified into other plantation crops
including oil palm, tea and coffee as well as beef, poultry and
crocodile production. In addition to plantation management, the
company has particular expertise in processing operations based on
crops produced by small-scale indigenous outgrowers.
Project Development
Since the 1960's the parent companies and subsequently Booker Tate
established "greenfield" sugarcane plantations and outgrower
operations, both rain fed and irrigated in Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia,
Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Papua New Guinea and Zambia. Most notably the
Mumias Sugar Company in Kenya culminated in a 5,000 ha nucleus
estate and nearly 40,000 small farmers supplying sugarcane to
produce over 220,000 tonnes of sugar per year. Construction of a
new sugar mill and a 5,000 ha plantation expansion was completed at
the Skeldon estate in Guyana in 2009.
In addition to basic agricultural management the development of a
new sugar industry requires extensive research inputs in connection
with seed material acquisition, agronomy, pest management, tillage
and irrigation systems. Optimisation of the cane harvesting and
transport system is particularly important. Machinery purchasing,
the setting up of maintenance workshops and staff training are also
very important factors in the economic success of the business.
They are equally applicable to other plantation crops.
Agricultural rehabilitation
In addition to the establishment of new projects, Booker Tate has
extensive experience in the rehabilitation and revitalisation of
sugar industries. This task frequently involves re-financing and
factory rehabilitation as well as the provision of management
inputs, agricultural machinery replacements, the provision of
management staff and training for local personnel. Such work has
been carried out in Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts and Uganda on a
variety of plantation type crops.
Feasibility studies
Booker Tate has carried out numerous feasibility studies for
potential new projects or expansion of existing projects in a
variety of countries which have more recently included Brazil,
Suriname, Indonesia, Australia, Ethiopia, Peru and Sri Lanka.
Possible inputs include soil and topographical surveys as well as
design work for irrigation, drainage, erosion control, transport,
workshop and domestic infrastructures. The recent emergence of
sugarcane as the premium feedstock for bioethanol and biomass
production has widened the focus for Booker Tate's agricultural
services. Studies for alternative fuel crops such as sweet sorghum
and jatropha have also been done.
Technical consultancy
Booker Tate can provide technical advice covering general
management, agronomy, pest control, irrigation, drainage,
mechanisation and staff training on a variety of crops.