Sugarcane farmer loses 20k in burnt cane, Police probe report

Asugarcane farmer from Naleba, Labasa has sought Police intervention to apprehend suspects who allegedly burnt huge portions of his farm in three separate fires this month.

Anil Chand said cane production would take a major downfall and he expected cane production to only cater for 45 tonnes of his cane this year.

He holds the power of attorney for the farm owned by his brother Jagdish Chand,

The Chand brothers depended on the sugarcane harvest as their only major source of income.

About 10 acres of the 12-acre sugarcane farm had completely been destroyed by the three consecutive fires on March 11, March 15 and March 18.

In 2020, a similar Police report was lodged where close to 300 tonnes of cane crops were destroyed.

Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro, confirmed receiving the complaint.

She said an investigation was progressively taking place to ascertain the cause of the three fires.