The Rarawai Mill in Ba begins crushing today.

It is forecasted to crush 640, 000 tonnes of cane with an expected output of 73, 000 tonnes of raw sugar.

Fiji Sugar Corporation executive chairman Abdul Khan said the mill is ready to roll from today with the forecast assessed last month.

“We don’t see any major challenges this time around but we expect a good partnership from the lorry operators, cutters and from the farmers to deliver their cane on time at the mill,” he said.

Mr Khan said they anticipate less unplanned stoppages this time at the mill.

He said the mechanical harvesters are expected to increase the amount of cane delivered.

“We have four bays for the trucks to tip off the cane and one is designated for the trucks bringing cane from the mechanical harvester which should boost the crushing of raw cane.”

Benefit

He said this will assist in three ways.

Firstly, the driver is aware of the easy way of not being in the long line.

Secondly the truck’s movement will not affect the long lines of the movement in and out of the bay.

Thirdly he said the cane from the harvester is smaller in size which wheels easy and consistent with the supply of cane.

He said the millers will work and monitor the supply closely to avoid unplanned stoppages as in the past.

FSC Rarawai Mill farm advisory manager, Jagdish Prasad has welcomed the third mechanical harvester to be used by the Sarava/Navau gang.

“This will be the third mechanical harvester in Ba as one is in Rarawai, Veisaru. This is a good partnership to overcome shortages of labourers to cut cane these days,” he said.

He said the Rarawai mill crushed 596,000 tonnes of cane last year.

“Harvesting and transportation has been the biggest challenge but this will resolve these issues.

“The government is trying its best to sustain the industry and during this crushing season is a partnership of farmers and stakeholders that will matter at the end of the day,” Mr Prasad said.

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