(14) Rum is a product of great economic importance for the FOD, and market outlets are vital. The gradual abolition of certain benefits currently accorde
d to rum production would have a serious impact on the earnings of the producers. The measures to support the cultivation of sugar cane and its direct processing into agricultural rum and sugar syrup should be continued because
these measures are helping to ensure continued deliveries of cane to distilleries, which can thus plan and rationalise investments in their production facilities, an
d because ...[+++]they help improve the incomes of cane growers and encourage them to improve their production methods to ensure higher yields and deliver better quality cane.