MORE than half of sugarcane farmers in Yaladro, Tavua, have abandoned their fields since the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) halted the local railway network, forcing a shift to costly lorry transport.
Farmers say the policy change has triggered significant financial losses across the district.
Narendra Reddy, who has farmed an 18-acre property for decades, said the exodus of growers has been rapid.
“Out of 72 railway growers in my area, 37 have already gone out of cane farming. They have quit. Maybe in a few more years only 10 will be left,” he said.
He said transport costs have surged, with rail previously costing between $5 and $6 per tonne, compared with at least $20 per tonne by lorry. Operators have warned rates could rise further to $30 per tonne.
Even with subsidies, escalating cutting and cartage costs mean production expenses now exceed initial cane delivery payments.
“When your cane is harvested, you are left with nothing, that’s why people can’t afford it.”
He said mechanical harvesters could not operate on steep terrain, while the former rail system allowed small family teams to harvest flexibly. Lorries, however, require larger crews that are increasingly difficult to source.
As a result, significant amounts of cane were left unharvested last season.
Growers have criticised the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s refusal to restore the rail lines despite government directives.
“The government advised the FSC to continue with the railway system and they did not listen.”
To cope with declining returns, Mr Reddy has turned to vegetable farming and operating a small shop.
FSC chief executive Bhan Pratap Singh said the Tavua tramline was closed prior to the 2025 crushing season.
He said cane yields from the district had been falling annually, making continued operation uneconomical.
“We were getting about 3 per cent of cane delivered from the district, which if you weigh it against the cost is not economically viable,” he said.
Mr Singh said the Sugar Industry Tribunal had ordered the closure of the tramline.
“That ruling has already been issued by the tribunal and that is still in effect,” he said.
“The only other proposal that is awaiting the tribunal’s ruling is the closure of the other tramlines to the Lautoka mill.”
