RAKIRAKI cane farmers are harvesting as little as half their usual crop as prolonged dry weather and falling borehole water supplies affect sugarcane production.
Cane farmer Amrijit Singh said the dry conditions had severely affected the quality and quantity of cane on his farm this year.
“Last year it was good but this year the cane production is very bad,” he said.
Mr Singh said his farm produced more than 200 tonnes of cane last year, but he expected only about half that amount this year.
“For last year we had cut more than 200 tonnes, but for this year we just cut half because of the dry season. It is very hard for us.”
He said the dry weather had also affected the borehole used by farmers, adding to their difficulties.
“We are very much concerned about this dry season, and how we will have to survive.”
With cane production falling, Mr Singh said he had started growing pineapples to supplement his family’s livelihood.
