Cane production down

Cane production down 200,000 tonnes

www.fijitimes.com - Saturday, October 10, 2009

CANE production dropped by 200,000 tonnes from 2.5 million tonnes in 2007, the Fiji Sugar Corporation reported.

The company's 2009 report said total sugar produced also dropped to 207,966 tonnes from the 237,418 tonnes recorded last year.

Chairman Gautam Ramswarip said the significant increase in burnt cane was of concern as burning during the season increased to 50 per cent from the 33 per cent recorded the previous year. He said the inconsistent supply of quality cane was another worrying factor.

Mr Ramswarup said FSC was in the process of investigating a number of initiatives and programs to streamline harvesting and transportation operations

Chief executive officer Deo Saran said this year's cane was from an area of 50,907 hectares and average yield per hectare had also dropped by 3.4 per cent.

He said at the end of the season about 35,000 tonnes remained un harvested, mainly due to lack of harvesting efforts by growers and above average rainfall towards the end of the season