ALTERNATIVE transport access routes are being drawn up by the Sugar Ministry to facilitate lorry drivers transporting cane from Tavua to the Lautoka Sugar Mill.
The cane growers who continue to grapple with the temporary closure of Rarawai Mill in Ba were assured these new routes by the Government following a recent meeting with Sugar Ministry permanent secretary Dr Vinesh Kumar. Dr Kumar said the ministry and the Fiji Sugar Corporation have agreed to develop these routes to ensure cane delivery to Lautoka continues.
“Given the urgency of the situation and the remote nature of these farming communities, we have decided to mobilise machinery to begin access road construction immediately,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that farmers can deliver their cane before the rainy season begins and that no farmer loses their crop because of the current disruptions.”
According to the ministry, farmers from Wainivoce, Vatubo, Rakavidi, and Waikubukubu raised concerns about the inability to transport harvested cane. “The railway loop serving the area had recently undergone successful repair and maintenance works by the Fiji Sugar Corporation and was ready for operation prior to the mill fire,” said Mr Kumar.
“However, with the Ba mill temporarily non-operational, farmers now face major challenges in moving their cane out from the farm.
“Many have engaged manual labourers who are becoming increasingly concerned as harvesting activities are on hold.”
Meanwhile, Fiji Cane Lorries Association Rarawai president Atish Kumar welcomed the move by the ministry, adding that cane growers were growing increasingly concerned about how long these problems would continue.
“We hope the Ba mill reopens in November because while we are trying to be patient and move our cane to Lautoka, there are a lot more problems coming up that we have to deal with on a daily basis,” said Mr Kumar.
