The Tavua United Cane Pro­ducer Co-operative is happy with the tonnage harvested after it procured a new cane har­vester for the 2021 crushing sea­son.

The procurement of the har­vester was made possible through the Government’s farm mechanisa­tion grant.

Co-operative president Epeli Qasenikoro said the harvester was worth more than $280,000.

“We have already harvested 2,000 tonnes out of the approximate 9,000 tonnes,” he said.

“This harvester has more per ton­nage capacity and has more power.”

He said previously the co-operative used to hire mechanical harvesters.

We have seen a big difference in the tonnes of cane harvested; the new harvester can load the trucks with 12 to 14 tonnes of cane.

“We are hopeful we finish the har­vesting in two to three months.

”After that, we will be able to give the harvester on hire to other gangs,” he said.

Purchase Of New Harvester 

Mr Qasenikoro said the co-opera­tive was hopeful to purchase a simi­lar harvester next year.

He said all cane farmers, lorry drivers and machine operators in the co-operative were vaccinated.

Co-operative secretary and Ta­vua United Mechanical Gang 47 leader Sainivalati Nasau said the gang of more than 60 gang mem­bers were hoping to harvest 100 tonnes of cane per day.

“Fortnightly, with the new me­chanical harvester, we are hopeful to harvest 1,200 to 1,500 tonnes of cane,” he said.

“We deliver at least three truckloads of cane to Rarawai Mill in Ba based on our quota, but as our har­vesting is faster and more efficient, we would require two additional trucks for quicker harvesting.”

Meanwhile, Ministry of Sugar director operations Sanjay Kumar said a total of 50 Government fund­ed harvesters are in use in the cur­rent harvesting season.

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