June 9, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/G3t6cC
With just over a week to go before the start of the sugarcane harvest and crush season, farmers have been advised to make every effort to cut and transport green cane to their nearest mill, according to the Fiji Times newspaper.
Sugar Cane Growers Council CEO Sundresh Chetty said the recent fourth cane payment of F$15 (US$7.2) per tonne should have provided the necessary funds for harvest preparations.
"We have received information from the ground that most growers had started preparations early and the fourth cane payment has boosted their preparations even further," he said.
"We would like to ask all canegrowers to harvest fresh green cane and to transport this in the shortest possible time to their designated mill."
Chetty said the F$2.5 million cane access road grant had been allocated based on crop percentage.
"We have had meetings with contractors and purchase orders were now being issued to rehabilitate roads in all mill areas."
Sugar industry stakeholders also held talks with the Fiji Roads Authority to discuss the handing over of major cane access roads to the FRA.
"These are roads that are classified as cane access roads but are used by the general public all year round."