THE Sugar Cane Growers Council is undertaking a comprehensive research of farms drastically impacted by the ongoing prolonged dry spell.
Council CEO Vimal Dutt said the council was working closely with farmers and stakeholders to collect the much-needed data and identify the type of assistance it could provide.
“The main concern is next year’s crop and how we can ensure that production is maintained,” he said.
Lautoka Cane Producers Association president Bala Dass said as the 2026 harvesting season draws to a close, growers were already weary of next year’s harvest.
“Its very difficult to replant or prepare our land for planting,” said Mr Dass.
“The ground is too hand and really dry. Our water sources are drying up so there needs to be some kind of assistance for our growers as they prepare for the next season.”
The prolonged dry spell is expected reach it’s peak in the final months of 2026.
According to the World Meteorological Organisation, Sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific are forecast to increase to record levels during October-November-December 2026, reflecting the strengthening of the El Niño event which will drive weather patterns and impact economies, ecosystems and communities across the globe.
WMO’s monthly global seasonal climate updatesays that El Niño will continue to intensify ahead of its forecast peak in December.
Inset bottom: A grazing cow takes shelter from the heat at Vaivai, Lautoka.
Picture REPEKA NASIKO
