Fiji Sugar Corporation executive chairman Abdul Khan said a total of 20,000 tonnes of cane is yet to be harvested in the Ba area.

“We are monitoring this on a daily basis and we request all remaining farmers to have their cane harvested and sent to the mill for processing,” he said.

“For the Rarawai Mill, to date we have processed around 490,000 tonnes of sugar cane and produced just under 60,000 tonnes of sugar.”

Mr Khan confirmed the closing date for the Rarawai Mill will be on November 5 while the closing date for the Lautoka mill is yet to be confirmed.

To date just over 900,000 tonnes of sugar cane has been processed for both mills.

Packaging plant

Mr Khan added there are minor adjustments that needed to be made before the new sugar packaging plant in Lautoka could be opened.

“We are still doing the minor adjustments and should have this finished in the next couple of months,” he said.

“So far other than minor adjustments, yes the machines are operating well and we hope to have this done before the end of the year.”