Rarawai, country’s largest sugar mill, prepared for cane processing which begins today
Jeremiah Paula will be the new driver for the Mechanical Cane Harvester. INSET: The locomotives purchased by the Fiji Sugar Corporation from Australia at the Lautoka Mill yesterday. Photo: NANDNI VANDHANA
LAUTOKA
Jeremaia Paula, 33, will be the driver of the first mechanical harvester brought in by Fiji Sugar Corporation.
“I am very excited for the new job. I have never seen any of these machines before and I am looking forward to the challenge,” Mr Paula said.
He started working for the Fiji Sugar Corporation in 2005 as a mechanic and grew in his role.
Mr Paula is being trained by Ken Ridolfi, an Australian consultant hired by the FSC to train staff on using the mechanical harvester. Once trained, Mr Paula will be teaching other staff at FSC on its operations
“I am here for two years and will be training staff of FSC and also farmers on how to maintain their farms so that it is easier to use the mechanical harvesters on the farms,” Mr Ridolfi said.
Because of shortage of cane cutters, FSC has invested in two mechanical harvesters.
As the Rarawai Mill will begin processing cane today, the country’s largest sugar mill is leaving no stones unturned for this year’s production of sugar.
The mechanical harvester can cut up to 1000 tonnes of sugar per day considering the road and weather conditions are favourable.
The FSC has also hired engineering consultants from Australia to keep the staff well-versed with the locomotives it has just purchased from Australia which will help in transporting sugarcane to the mills.
FSC has this year upgraded 1.5 km of railway in Batiri, Sigatoka, and one kilometre of railway in Labasa.
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