FSC Advises Against Sugar Cane Burning
The continuous burning of sugar cane during the harvesting season will have an adverse effect on the Fiji Sugar Corporation trying to negotiate premium prices for its sugar exports.
FSC chief executive officer Graham Clark said the burning of sugar cane was detrimental to the sugar industry and the environment.
“Although it may be argued that this practice brings some short term benefits, in terms of shortening harvest times, in the longer term, this is a practice that, according to FSC, should not be encouraged,” Mr Clark said.
Mr Clark said the burning of cane should not be encouraged because with extended delivery times, it impacted the quality of sugar produced ultimately reducing the premium prices that Fiji was able to earn on its sugar exports.
“The reason we don’t encourage burning is because when burnt cane is harvested it deteriorates quickly and stimulates the conversion of sugar content (sucrose) into destructive compounds such as dextran and methanol, which adversely affects sugar recovery and sugar quality from the factory,” he said.
“The presence of these destructive compounds is penalised by international buyers of sugar, whereas sugar supplied free of these compounds attracts premium prices.
“It is possible to remove these during the sugar manufacturing process by chemical dosing, but this is an expensive process adding to costs of production, which cannot be fully recovered from the sugar sales price. “Sugarcane burning also has a negative impact on the environment and public hygiene in areas downwind of fields,” Mr Clark said. While sugar cane burning contributed to pollution, the associated ash and debris took time to break down and remained an environmental pollution factor, long after a cane fire.
“Sugar cane burning in Fiji is often driven by malicious intent, and this can have major financial consequences,” Mr Clark said. “Out of season cane fires when the mills are not crushing result in the total loss of the crop, whilst the burning of immature cane, results in yield loss to farmers. When burnt cane is notified to FSC, it may be accepted for crushing if the delivery mill is operating, but as stipulated in the Sugar Industry Tribunal Master Award, the mill has the discretion to reject burnt cane after seven days.”
If accepted for crushing within seven days, a burnt cane penalty is charged 24 hours after burning.
The result could be a maximum loss of 17 per cent of the first delivery payment for cane burnt and delivered six days after burning.
Green cane harvesting is a good farming practice, widely adopted internationally with proven crop and soil subtracts analysis. “The increased use of mechanical harvesters provides an opportunity for more green cane harvesting in Fiji,” he said
“An added benefit of mechanical harvesting, is that cane leaves (trash) are removed in the mechanical harvesting process and separated from the harvested cane.”
The trash is blown by fan, operated from the harvester onto the field being cut, providing a blanket over the remaining roots.
This process allows moisture to be retained and prevents or least slows weed growth. The added organic matter from the cane trash also improves soil health when incorporated after harvesting.