Labasa mill to end crushing on Sunday: FSC Labasa Mill GM
The Fiji Sugar Corporation Labasa mill will close for 2016 crushing season this Sunday (November 6). This was confirmed by the mill general manager Karia Christopher yesterday.
“This will be the first sugar mill to close for 2016 crushing season,” Mr Christopher said. “Sugarcane farmers are aware that the mill will be closed as this has been notified by the Fiji Sugar Tribunal through media.
“If the need for extension arises, we might be able to negotiate and give one extra day.” Mr Christopher said they were aware of the problems faced by the farmers and hoped that they will manage and supply cane to the mill within this few remaining days. “The mill has been functioning well without any major problems this year,” Mr Christopher said. “So far there had been two shipments of sugar to Europe and the date for the third shipment hasn’t be confirmed yet.” Meanwhile, National Farmers Union president Surendra Lal said he was optimistic that farmers would be able to work according to the time frame given. “One of the major problems faced by the farmers in Vanua Levu is labour shortage,” he said. “What I have been told that farmers travel to different province to get labourers and sometimes the only option available is to wait for the labourers that are already working in someone’s farm. “Although we have mechanical harvesters, this is only useful on flat land. “I hope that labour shortage problem can be looked into before 2017 crushing season begins.”
This will be the first sugar mill to close for 2016 crushing season. Sugarcane farmers are aware that the mill will be closed as this has been notified by the Fiji Sugar Tribunal through media
Karia Christopher
General Manager for Labasa Mill