Farmers attending the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji information day at Varoka, Ba on Tuesday. Photo: PREM NAIDU.
The Sugar Research Institute of Fiji, apart from helping Fiji’s sugar industry with new varieties of cane, is also providing farmers with awareness to further improve cane production.
The institute held its information day at Ujagar Singh’s farm, Varoka, Ba, on Tuesday giving farmers information on weed management with over 80 farmers attending.
Research officer at the Institute, Prem Naidu, said the key focus of weed management is on ‘zero tolerance’ to weeds in cane fields.
“Farmers attending the information day had the opportunity to see a recently planted cane block that had no weeds and the cane was thriving,’’ Mr Naidu said.
He said 80-year-old Ujagar Singh controlled the weeds at this farm from the very beginning where pre-emergence weedicide were applied two days after completion of planting.
“The pre-emergence weedicide application helped in good establishment of the cane,” Mr Prem said.
“After six weeks of planting, there was no weeds in this field and the cane was fertilised and allowed to grow.
“As soon as some new weeds emerged after fertilisation, another round of weedicides was applied and the cane started growing vigorously during the grand growth phase.”
Mr Naidu said adapting to pre-emergence weedicide application helps in reduction of costs.
The pre-emergence weedicide is hardly practiced in Fiji and the farmers were advised to adopt the pre-emergence weed management strategy during the forthcoming planting season.