Ratoon sugarcane crops stand on Fiji soil at an average of 12 years.
This according to Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) chief executive officer Professor Santiago Mahimairaja.
Prof Mahimairaja said he had also been informed that there were many places in the sugarcane belt areas in Fiji “where we have 40 to 50 years of ratoon” on the fields.
“Unfortunately, 80 per cent of the standing sugarcane crop in Fiji is ratoon crop and that naturally reduces your crop productivity,” he said.
Prof Mahimairaja said on average, Fiji was only producing 47 tonnes of sugarcane per hectare, however, on SRIF farms, they were able to harvest 80 to 90 tonnes per hectare.
“It is very low, even if you take countries like India, where you get yield on an average of 110 to 120 tonnes per hectare.”
He added the data from 1996 showed that Fiji, at that time, was producing around 4.7 million tonnes per year, however “we are now only getting around 1.7 million”.
“If our production is at least increased from 47 tonnes per hectare to around 55 tonnes per hectare, then we could easily achieve the targeted sugarcane production of 2 million tonnes per year.”
Prof Mahimairaja said since crop cultivation costs were high, farmers preferred to go for long ratooning, however, he emphasised it only reduced crop productivity.
“I strongly suggest and recommend farmers to have shorter ratoon life, at maximum of around three to four years with the focus on soil health, because by manipulating the soil health, we could improve the sugarcane productivity.”