Cane Farmers Optimistic
Farmers in the cane belt areas of Vanua Levu have started with their cane harvesting in preparation for the official crushing that begins at the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Labasa Mill today.
SunBiz visited a few cane farms in the Labasa vicinity yesterday and got a glimpse of what farmers expect in the new crushing season. Wailevu sector sugar cane farmer from Vatudova, Labasa, Rakesh Prasad, is optimistic of a good harvest this year.
This sense of optimism had been influenced by the production of quality cane which he believed is better than last year.
Mr Prasad owns a 30 acre farm from which nearly 500 tonnes of cane has been supplied to the Labasa mill annually.
He supported the early crushing date and advised FSC not to delay the crushing as farmers like him wished to cart as many green sugar cane as possible.
A group of 12-gang harvesters from Lekutu in Bua were called to work on Mr Prasad’s farm and another farmer.
He chose a combined gang harvesting strategy to ensure both his and his fellow farmer friend, produce be harvested on time.
“It is hard to get a good gang for harvesting, and I have agreed with another farmer in the area to harvest and cart cane in partnership,” Mr Prasad said.
Request for price increase
The 45-year-old said the profit margin of sugar cane farming was not enough and asked the Minister for Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Charan Jeath Singh, to consider a tonnage price increase from $85 to $110.
“I am confident that this price will be suggested by the majority of the farmers in Fiji; harvesting ends up taking a major deficit on the farmer’s income ability,” Mr Prasad said.
He said it cost him $1000 to bring over the cane cutters to work on the farm during the initial stages. At Wailevu sector, sugar cane farmer, Rajesh Prasad, was preparing his load to be carted. However, due to time constraints and the lorry getting stuck, he did not comment.
Mill manager
Labasa Mill manager, Leela Ramesh, confirmed that all maintenance were completed on schedule for the new season.
Mr Ramesh said the technical issues had been solved and works continued to progress in solving minor environmental issues. He arrived from India yesterday and assured farmers that Labasa Mill was 100 per cent maintenance ready.