SUGARCANE grower Saten Prasad is anticipating a low harvesting season this year.
A cane farmer of more than 10 years, Mr Prasad says mounting costs of operating a sugar ane farm will be made worse with the dry spell that is starting to affect growers across the Western Division.
“Our biggest problem this season was having no labourers,” he said.
“Some of our farmers built homes expecting to bring in manual labourers but none of them came so the houses are empty.
“This year we only have three labourers working in eight different farms, so it will take a long time to harvest all of our cane.”
He said while they expected a long wait for available cane cutters, the dry weather conditions have not made it any easier.
“While we wait, we worry about our farm catching fire, our water supply running out.”
Mr Prasad said keeping animals fed was becoming more challenging too.
“We have to walk longer and take them further away to find green grass for our cows. It is getting more difficult to find good pasture for them.”
