THE dry spell affecting farmlands across the Western Division has farmers worried about their future harvests.
Sugarcane growers are already forecasting a 2027 low yield while vegetable farmers are running out of options as the dry earth becomes hostile environments for seedlings.
Dakadaka settlement in Nawaicoba outside Nadi is littered with cane farmers who are facing an uncertain harvest next season.
Cane grower Munend Chand says farm animals seeking out nutrient preserved feed have destroyed his new crops.
“I started planting for next year, but they come and eat it, and they look for shade on our farms,” he said.
“What else can we do?
“One of my neighbours, he harvested 100 tonnes this year. Next year, he will only harvest 70 tonnes.”
Rada settlement cane farmer Atendra Kumar says he needed a second borehole on his farm.
“I have one borehole and it is my only water supply in our area,” he said.
“If it dries up, I don’t have another source of water.”
Vegetable farmer Umesh Narayan said his supply of fruits and vegetables to nearby hotels have been drastically affected.
“I am supposed to be harvesting right now but nothing is growing,” he said.
“All of my okra, chillies, watermelon, rock melon is all gone.”
Nawaicoba is home to about 400 farmers.
According to the Fiji Sugar Corporation, harvests for the 2026 crushing season is expected to drop by 10 per cent because of the dry conditions caused by the Super El Niño currently affecting most parts of the world.
