More than half or 80 per cent of sugar cane supplied to the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Labasa Mill this season is burnt cane.
Mill manager, Leela Ramesh, revealed this during the Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad’s recent visit to Seaqaqa, Macuata.
Mr Ramesh said burnt cane affected the quality of sugar produced, but it could be accepted in genuine cases.
The corporation takes in burnt cane supplied within 48 hours of its initial burn.
The Labasa Mill crushed 430,000 tonnes of sugar cane so far with burnt cane supply as a contributor to declining quantity.
Mr Ramesh said they had another 120,000 tonnes of cane more to crush before the season ends. He also said they weekly crush 25,000 tonnes of cane.
October 25 is the expected date of the season’s close.
He said they would not be able to achieve more than 555,000 tonnes which was crushed last year.
“We will crush only 550,000 tonnes this year which is a drop from 5000 tonnes,” he said.
Burnt cane supply to the mill continues to pose a significant downturn in the tonnage decline of cane crushed.
Mr Ramesh said other factors such as unfavourable weather conditions led to the decline.
Another factor was the poor rail infrastructure at certain localities in Vanua Levu.
“I fully understand the struggles of farmers, but we are trying to improve in this area,” Mr Ramesh said.
While last year’s crushing quantity would not be met, there is optimism that the mill will achieve its goal next season.
Minister for Sugar and Multi- Ethnic Affairs, Charan Jeath Singh, has on many occasions acknowledged the performance of the Labasa Mill.
Labasa Mill is currently the best performing mill in the country with the mill breakdown issues limited compared to Lautoka and Ba mills.
Green cane supply to the mills was encouraged by Mr Singh to boost the quantity of cane produced.
Mr Ramesh said the Total Cane to Total Sugar produced (TCTS) ratio had improved for Labasa Mill.
The current TCTS is now 1: 9.65 this season so far from 1: 10 from previous five seasons.
“I urge all farmers to please bring as much green cane to the mill as possible,” he added.
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