11 Cage Bins Piloted For Use in Labasa
Eleven cage bins have been Nubu, Labasa. Assistant Minister for Sugar George Vegnathan, said they piloted the use of cage bins on Thursday as it has many benefits.
But they also need to identify some teething problems.
“We introduced cage bins for the first time in Labasa and will see how successful it is as it could be the way forward that will help us maintain the farms, so there will be less damage to the field as the trucks go inside,” Mr Nathan said.
“We can use the cage bins especially for areas piloted in with damp conditions, these bins can be taken inside and loaded and then if it works, then more bins will be coming soon.”
Fee challenges
Agriculture Manager North, Rajinesh Narayan, said that there were some problems faced by the farmers of Nubu. That was the reason for selecting the area to pilot the cage bins. “A few challenges faced by the growers were transportation and the costs for carting the cane to the mill and currently there are no labourers to fill the trial trucks and machines to harvest the cane.
“However, with the cage bins it has many benefits, such as maintaining the conditions of the field, less damage to the road and reduc
Meet Shaan Ali
Meanwhile, Mr Vegnathan visited a new cane farmer, Shaan Ali, with 85 acres of cane farm.
“We appreciate those that take the initiative to start something themselves instead of waiting for the government’s assistance,” Mr Vegnathan said.
“Maybe we will come in one we see the fruits of their commitment and hard work
“The Ministry of Sugar has a big push from our visionary leader, the Prime Minister and Minister for Sugar, who is really behind the farmers just to see that the production will go up.
“The 85 acres of cane farm is expected to harvest more than 2000 tonnes of cane.
“The Ministry as a whole appreciates the efforts by people like Shaan Ali.”
Mr Ali should be an inspiration to other farmers, that they can do a lot especially at this time.
Utilising idle land for cane farming
Meanwhile, Mr Ali the owner of the 85 acres of cane farm in Kawakawa- Vesi in Seaqaqa said he saw the land was idle for 7 years before he utilised it into a cane farm.
The father of five is anticipating the purchasing of a harvester to harvest the cane in August.
Mr Ali had been working as labourer with his wife for over two years.
At times he would cut 10 tonnes of cane and load it all by himself.
That sacrifice pushed him farm.
With the assistance from Fiji Sugar Corporation, his three trucks will cart the canes to the Labasa Mill. to own a cane