Farmers and lorry drivers have called for Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) to relook at the daily cane cutting quotas.

Cane farmer and lorry driver Tufal Mohammed, 56, from Lubulubu TT gang 22 said the quotas received by the gang were low.

“We have to be on standby and therefore harvesting is also delayed,” he said.

“FSC also needs to relook at maintenance works so crushing is done quickly at the mills.

“Once crushing speed is normalised, then we can go ahead with more quotas and harvest our cane in a timely manner.”

Mr Mohammed delivers his cane to Rarawai mill in Ba.

Cane grower and lorry driver Andrew Hussein at the Rarawai mill in Ba on July 29, 2021. Photo: Shreya Kumar

Andrew Hussein, another cane grower and lorry driver shared the same sentiments.

He agreed the number of quotas given to farmers needed to increase so the cane is harvested before the wet season.

With a limited number of quotas, around 250 lorries out of the 455 lorries under the Lautoka Lorry Association remain on standby.

Assistant treasurer Taslim Khan said only 200 lorries were given quotas daily for the delivery of cane to the mill.

“There needs to be consultation between the relevant parties to work out a way which will benefit all the stakeholders,” he said.

Queries sent to FSC remained unanswered when this edition went to print.

Feedback: shreya.kumar@fijisun.com.fj