The Ministry of Sugar has instructed the Sugar Cane Growers Council to enquire into why there are only 61 percent of manual harvesting gangs operating the Lautoka mill area.
Dr. Vinesh Kumar, Permanent Secretary for the ministry said this after meeting industry stakeholders yesterday to examine challenges impacting the Lautoka mill.
A Ministry statement said the discussion centered on the mill’s operational performance, the declining quality of cane supplied, and severe labor shortages affecting cane deliveries.
Dr. Kumar highlighted a concerning statistic that only 61% of manual labor gangs are currently operational in the Lautoka Mill area.
He said this was the lowest participation rate among Fiji’s three sugar mills.
“To address this, he directed the SCGC to work closely with FSC to mobilize additional labor gangs and stabilize cane supply levels,” said the Ministry statement.
The meeting, held yesterday, included Ilaitia Ratumainaceva, General Manager of the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Lautoka Mill, Sunil Chaudhary, General Manager of the Sugar Cane Growers Council (SCGC), and Sharneel Kumar, Acting CEO of the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF).
The Ministry is also tackling issues related to burnt cane, a persistent problem affecting cane quality. Dr. Kumar tasked SRIF with accelerating cane quality testing to develop effective strategies for improving standards.
“We must ensure that our farmers receive the support they need to deliver high-quality cane,” he stated.
urging stakeholders to commit to round-the-clock efforts throughout the crushing season.
Emphasizing the need for ongoing collaboration, Dr. Kumar announced that weekly meetings will be held to monitor progress and address emerging challenges promptly.
