THE prolonged dry spell is affecting mill operations by the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) which is incurring close to $3million in unforeseen costs fuelled by the drier conditions affecting more than 13,700 cane growers.
Responding to this newspaper on the impact the prolonged dry spell could have on operations, FSC board chairman Nitya Reddy said cane production this year had significantly dropped.
“The Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited acknowledges the significant impact that the prevailing El Niño conditions are having on the sugar industry, particularly through prolonged dry conditions affecting cane growth, harvesting and planting for the 2027 season,” Mr Reddy said.
“FSC’s latest cane estimate indicates a reduction of approximately 150,000 tonnes from its original forecast of 1,496,000 tonnes, representing a reduction of around 10 per cent.
“Should the drought conditions persist, there is a possibility of a further reduction.
“The dry conditions are also already affecting planting for the 2027 season, which could have significant implications for next year’s crop.”
He said these weather-related challenges had compounded the damage caused by earlier harvesting disruptions.
“As at 31 August 2026, FSC had incurred approximately $2.67million in additional fuel costs associated with stop-start harvesting interruptions.
“As we enter the 10th week of crushing, FSC has crushed 545,530 tonnes of cane and produced 50,616 tonnes of sugar, with a TCTS (tonnes of cane to tonnes of sugar ratio) of 10.8.
“Of particular concern is the very high level of burnt cane at the Viti Levu mills, which is already around 60 per cent despite only approximately 40 per cent of the crop having been harvested.”
Following a stakeholder meeting last month, Sugar Cane Growers Council chief executive Vimal Dutt said the dry spell had sparked concerns among growers.
He said the industry had activated immediate measures to address these concerns.
“We had a meeting with our industry stakeholders, and a few immediate concerns were raised during the meeting which we will have to address,” he said.
“These include food security, water supply and animal feed for the grower’s livestock.”
According to the FSC, harvests for the 2026 crushing season is expected to drop by 10 per cent because of the dry conditions caused by the Super El Niño currently affecting most parts of the world.
