Ministry prepares for cane harvesting season
THE Ministry of Sugar Industry and Multi-Ethnic Affairs has started preparing for the cane harvesting season as labour shortages loom around the country.
Minister Charan Jeath Singh outlined the ministry’s plans in Parliament this week and said 120 inmates would be engaged in cane harvesting this year as part of its ongoing agreement with the Fiji Corrections Service.
He said these inmates would be engaged to harvest sugarcane particularly in hilly terrain where mechanical harvesters had limitations.
“This has alleviated some of the burden of the farmers in the hilly areas where the current mechanical harvesters are not able to operate and to also assist farmers with other cane cutters,” he said.
“Recognising the need of mechanised harvesting in the hilly terrain, the ministry has procured equipment and machines to the Fiji Sugar Corporation for this purpose.
“These machines will undergo trial during the harvesting season and if successful, will acquire additional harvesters to assist farmers in the hilly terrain.”
He said Government had also allocated funds for the procurement of 42 additional cage bins.
Mr Singh said these bins would support mechanical harvesting and decrease transportation expenses from areas around the mills in Lautoka and Labasa. He said this investment was expected to facilitate the transportation of an additional 20,000 tonnes of cane.
“We have been actively assisting cooperatives that intend to bring in operators for their harvesters from India by facilitating letters of support to the Department of Immigration.
“This initiative enables the cooperative to bring in harvester operators and technicians from India to address the shortage of skilled people to operate harvesters within the season.”