A BA cane farmer has called on the Government to deploy Fiji Military Forces personnel to assist with manual sugarcane harvesting, saying a severe labour shortage is delaying the crushing season and contributing to concerns over local sugar supplies.
Yalalevu farmer Arvind Singh said manual harvesting had stalled in many areas because of a lack of workers, despite machine harvesting continuing and some farmers already cutting cane.
“I urge the Minister for Sugar, Tomasi Tunabuna, to please have a discussion with the Minister for Defence, Pio Tikoduadua,” Mr Singh said.
“We have so many army personnel and they can come and help in harvesting so they can make some money too rather than being idle in the army barracks.”
Mr Singh said the military had regularly supported communities following natural disasters and could similarly assist farmers facing labour shortages.
“When the flood happens, the army used to come and help in rebuilding the lives of people, whether it’s their homes, schools and other things,” he said.
“So, this is the time farmers also need them.
“I think the Minister should talk to the Defence Minister if he can arrange some army personnel to come to the sugarcane farms and help farmers. That will be a very big relief for us.”
Mr Singh stressed that farmers were not refusing to harvest their crops.
“Those who have manpower have started harvesting and the machine harvesters have started. It’s only the manual harvesting that is not operating because 90 per cent of the manpower is not there,” he said.
His comments come amid public concern over sugar shortages, with some supermarkets reporting limited supplies in recent weeks.
