Surgcane production is expected to drop by about 200,000 tonnes this season, with El Niño contributing to the decline, says incoming Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh.
Mr Singh said the industry had initially forecast a cane production of about 1.5 million tonnes for this season.
However, that estimate had now fallen to about 1.3 million tonnes.
“I was told that even in this current season, whilst we were forecasting about 1.5 million tonnes of cane, because of the El Niño effect, there is a drop in the sugar tonnage itself from 1.5 to 1.3 million,” he said.
He said the decline was also being reflected in Labasa, where production had been forecast at about 650,000 tonnes.
He said the estimate had now dropped to about 550,000 tonnes.
“The sugar mills needs sufficient cane supply to operate effectively.”
He identified the decline in cane production as one of several major challenges facing the sugar industry.
“Ageing machinery, problems faced by farmers and the declining number of young people entering cane farming were also affecting the industry.
He said expiring land leases as another concern, adding that farmers needed certainty over the future of their land if they were to remain in the industry.
