Tribunal orders early end to Rarawai Mill crushing season

The Sugar Industry Tribunal has ordered the termination of the 2025 crushing season at Rarawai Mill next Monday, January 12, following consultations with key industry stakeholders.

Sugar Industry Commissioner Timothy Brown confirmed yesterday that the order was issued by Sugar Industry Tribunal head Semi Leweniqila after discussions with the chief executive officers of the Sugar Cane Growers Council and the Fiji Sugar Corporation.

In issuing the directive, the Tribunal urged growers and harvesting gangs supplying Rarawai Mill to make every possible effort to harvest and deliver all remaining cane before the January 12 deadline.

“The Sugar Industry Tribunal has requested all growers and gangs supplying Rarawai Mill to make every effort to harvest all cane and deliver it to Rarawai Mill by Monday, January 12, 2026,” Mr Brown said in a statement.

However, some cane farmers say persistent heavy rainfall has made it impossible to complete harvesting in the remaining days.

Olimiva Likusuga, of Moto in Ba, said many farmers would prefer to leave their cane for the next crushing season.

“There are only a few days left, and we were not able to clear the cane due to waterlogged conditions around our farms,” Ms Likusuga said.

She added that recent weather conditions had also affected the use of machinery, placing further strain on already struggling farmers.

“The mechanical harvester cannot cut the cane due to the recent heavy rainfall,” she said.

Ms Likusuga said hiring manual labour at this stage would place an additional financial burden on farmers and their families.

“And if we bring in cutters, it will be extra expense that we cannot afford. Therefore, we will get our cane harvested in the first week of the next season,” she said.

The early termination of crushing at Rarawai Mill highlights ongoing challenges in the sugar industry, particularly the impact of weather on productivity and farmer livelihoods.

While authorities are pushing to maximise deliveries before the deadline, many growers remain concerned about losses and rising costs as the season draws to a close.

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