HEALTH issues have been linked to the decline in cane production for some farmers in the Western Division and Dhirendra Kumar of Koronubu Sector, Ba, says he is one of them.

His wife fell ill in 2015 and Mr Kumar suffered a heart attack this year.

The 57-year-old is not sure what the future holds in terms of his participation in the sugarcane industry.

“Because of my health, I won’t be working on the farm this year,” he said.

“It is difficult because I am thinking about my wife and I also have to think of my health too.”

Apart from failing health, Mr Kumar said the low cane price over the past few years had made it difficult for farmers to expand production, even if they wanted to.

“We won’t be able to plant more or harvest more because we don’t have much to spend. The money that we get from last year’s harvest will go towards our deductions for fertiliser, labourers and transport.

“There’s nothing left from cane after that and the only place I get money from is through the sale of livestock. I sell a few animals and get about $500 to $600.”

In 2015 he produced 80 tonnes on eight acres of land and last year harvested 32 tonnes after STC Winston.

“This year I am expecting to harvest 70 tonnes of cane. It’s not enough but I can only do that much because I can only afford about two labourers.”

He said an increase in cane price would ease his burdens.

“If the price of cane is higher then maybe I can afford to plant more by hiring more people. We should be paid $100 for every tonne.

“The $1000 per acre cane planting grant is good but the other expenses are too much.

“And I know other farmers want the cane payment done in lump sum but I think the cane payment system is good because if we get it in one large sum, then most farmers will finish that money in a very short time and what will happen then.”