THE National Farmers Union (NFU) has raised concern over the ongoing problems at the Lautoka Mill, saying no sugar has been produced so far and that crushed cane is being wasted.
NFU general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry described crushing at the mill as an “ongoing disaster”.
“In the past two weeks since the mill began operation it has had six stoppages, the last being on Saturday 21 June,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“The mill is still out today (Monday 23/06). It had a similar three-day breakdown last weekend (June 17) and did not resume crush until late Monday, June 19.”
He said the mill had been consistently plagued with boiler and diffuser problems, resulting in large quantities of cane juice and bagasse overflowing as waste.
He expressed concern that the mill management had not issued weekly crush reports.
“There is no way of knowing how much cane has been delivered to the mill to date. What it means is heavy losses to both the farmers and FSC.”
Mr Chaudhry said the FSC management had remained silent over the crisis.
“It’s sheer incompetence and negligence on their part. They rushed into crushing well knowing that the Lautoka Mill was far from ready.”
He said farmers continued to suffer huge losses with their cane drying up on laden lorries parked at the mill for days.
“The cost to FSC is enormous. It is not making any sugar, given the stop/start operation of the mill.
“Farmers in Ba, Tavua and Ra are concerned that it may be the same with the Rarawai Mill which is scheduled to begin crush later this month.”
Mr Chaudhry said it was time the Prime Minister stepped in and demanded accountability from Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh.
“Mr Singh must be removed as Sugar Minister. Board chairman Nitya Reddy and senior FSC executives must also be held responsible for the disastrous state of the mill.
“They need to be replaced with people who can deliver. It is time firm steps are taken to save the industry from collapse.”
The Lautoka Sugar Mill is now into its second week of crushing since operations began on June 12.
