Ba sugarcane farmer Arvind Singh is calling on the Government to build a modern sugar mill for Viti Levu as a solution to the constant breakdown of mills in Lautoka and Ba.
The regular breakdown of Ba’s Rarawai mill has resulted in more than 100 lorry drivers parked outside the facility since last week.
“As a farmer, I’m very concerned about the sugar mill and this is not a new problem, but an ongoing issue from years and years,” Mr Singh said.
“When the crushing season starts, the mill breaks down. I think the time has come for the Government and the minister to look into it very seriously and build a new mill, that is the only solution.
“A new modern mill so that this problem will be resolved forever.
“Because this mill is very old, we do the patching every year. This mill cannot survive.”
Mr Singh said money was wasted trying to fix the aging mill.
“As far as patching and repairing the mill, we are just wasting millions of dollars. It is better to just build a modern mill.
“I think we only need one modern mill in Viti Levu and the other mills must be closed down.
“There is more sugarcane in Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki, and if you come to Sigatoka, Nadi and Lautoka, sugarcane is becoming less every year.
“All stakeholders need to work together to allow the sugar industry to thrive.
“And that is the only solution where farmers can survive, and lorry drivers won’t be waiting for two to three nights outside the mill.”
Questions sent to Fiji Sugar Corporation CEO Bhan Pratap Singh remain unanswered.
