FARMERS in Labasa are bracing for significant financial losses in sugar production this year, with some believing the sector can lose huge sums due to the persistent flooding they’ve been facing.
The flooding, they say, is caused by poor drainage systems that have failed to channel water effectively.
Korotari farmer Satish Chand said the waterlogging in the area could have been prevented with better drainage.
“The waterlog is just because of the drainage. They should have some more drainage so that the water goes to the sea,” he said.
Mr Chand blames the lack of action from relevant authorities has caused his farm to be regularly under water.
“We had called relevant authorities before the bad weather regarding poor drainage, but nothing was done to address it.”
Another farmer Vijen Prasad said waterlogging had been an ongoing challenge, significantly affecting those who had poured considerable time, effort, and money into maintaining their fields.
“We had around three feet of water on the main road in the cane field; still, the water is there, around about 10,000 tonnes,” he said.
Mr Prasad said the flooding have caused another setback to the sugar sector.
” The cane we have recently put in, and I put some manure there, and that is all washed away in that heavy rain. So that drain is where all the manure from the sugar cane goes in the river.”
In response, Minister for Sugar Charan Jeath Singh said a team had been deployed to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Rae.
“A team was on the ground, carrying out an assessment of the damage caused by Cyclone Rae in the sector,” he said.
Mr Singh said the team would be visiting affected farmers to evaluate the extent of the destruction.
He said the cost of damage would be made known after the assessment was conducted.
