SUGARCANE farmers supplying the Lautoka mill have projected a reduction in production of about 30 per cent because of inclement weather and disillusioned growers.
Lautoka Cane Producers Association president Praveen Singh said despite their best efforts, farmers in the Drasa and Malolo sectors had informed him that cane production was down and they had projected a further reduction next season.
“We have cross-checked their figures and this is a reality,” Mr Singh said.
“For example, last year Drasa sector produced 14,000 tonnes and this year we are expecting 8500 tonnes.”
“Next year our most optimistic projected harvest for Drasa is 6000 tonnes.
“And these results are because of two things — the weather has played a huge factor and farmers have lost confidence because of reasons best known to them.”
Under the Strategic Action Plan for Sugar formulated and implemented by the Government in 2013, in partnership with industry stakeholders and the European Union, initiatives were put in place to boost production to 4,000,000 tonnes by 2017.
This was revised down to 3,000,000 tonnes last year with Fiji Sugar Corporation executive chairman Abdul Khan citing weather as the major contributing factor.
Government injected $13million to growers by way of cane planting grants — $8million in 2014 and $5million in 2015 — in an attempt to boost production. However, Mr Khan said all things considered, weather was one factor that nobody had control over.
