SUGARCANE farmers are racing to harvest more than 85,000 tonnes of cane still standing in fields across the Western Division.
They have until next Monday to cut, load and deliver the cane to Rarawai mill in Ba — a timeline that they say is “too rigid” given the challenges they face with the weather and finding labourers.
Rarawai sector farmer and Fiji Cane Lorries Association president Atish Kumar said farmers needed more time to harvest their cane which had been hindered by rain and missing cane cutters yet to return from the festive season celebrations.
Former FSC board member Arvind Singh, however, said an extended closing date would not make a difference.
“We are fighting against the weather which is out of our control, and we have labourers who we can’t force to come back to the farms,” said Mr Singh.
“And we are expected to harvest all of this cane in less than seven days. How are we going to do that?”
