‘Wrong Cane Varieties’
Stakeholders raise concern over unapproved sugarcane varieties at mills, warn of low productivity
The Master Award of the Sugar Industry Tribunal recommends cultivation of approved sugarcane varieties. only
Nineteen varieties are approved at present by the tribunal for cultivation in Fiji.
A training was conducted by the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) to help improve the Fijian sugar production.
Input was received from Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) farm advisors, estate officers and assistants’ knowledge on the identification of varieties with the combination of important morphological characters.
SRIF deputy chief executive officer, Prem Naidu, said a varietal composition in sugarcane areas in Viti Levu (Lautoka and Rarawai sugar mills) and Vanua Levu (Labasa Mill) were different as the agro-climatic conditions differed between the two islands.
Sugar varities
Mana (95 per cent) is the major variety followed by Naidiri, LF 911925, Qamea, Aiwa and Kamba in Viti Levu, Mr Naidu said.
Naidiri (66.4 per cent) followed by Ragnar, Galoa, LF 91-1925 and Qamea are the varieties cultivated in Vanua Levu, he said.
Mr Naidu said identification of closely resembling varieties was important for field workers. “Cultivation of unapproved varieties, especially in the Labasa Mill area is a major concern,” he said. Mill general manager, Leela Ramesh said continued farmplant unapproved varieties and this affects our tonnes of sugar to tonnes of cane (TCTS),” Mr Ramesh said. “When farm advisors inform them what variety to plant, still they do not to listen.”
He said it was not right for FSC to bear the cost of crushing unapproved varieties of cane.
Moving forward
Mr Ramesh said unapproved varieties often affected productivity and sugar recovery of the mill.
“We want farmers to go to the sector office to read the list, so they can verify from what they are planting, against the list,” he said.
“In the coming weeks, we will have discussions with relevant authorities to see if some action can be taken against farmers who do not plant the approved varieties.”
“FSC has the right to reject unapproved varieties of cane for crushing; I still remember in 2012 it was practiced and the issues was resolved,” he said.
“If we start enforcing this measure, farmers will suffer.”