The Sugar Cane Grower’s Council (SCGC) is exploring the industry and the communities for the availability of harvesters for sugarcane farmers. 

Council chief executive officer, Vimal Dutt highlighted this during a Public Accounts Standing Committee (PAC) consultation in Lautoka, where he gave a report on shortage of labourers. 

Public Accounts Committee member, Jovesa Vocea suggested that the council to correspond with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs. 

“The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs can help in bringing harvesters from the villages,” Mr Vocea said. 

Mr Dutt said that was the solution they have been exploring as well. 

“We have been receiving responses that there were not enough villagers or people in the community for such activities. But certainly, villagers had been a great help in terms of the manual cutters that we rely on,” he said. 

“We are also exploring the industry and the communities for those who are available to bring in mechanical harvesters for the hill. 

“So that was also a solution.” 

He added that the cost was also a factor. 

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