FSC urges farmers to curb cane burning as mills struggle with high trash levels and reduced yields

Sugar cane farmers are being encouraged to adopt clean cultivation practices and refrain from burning as burnt cane in the Viti Levu Mills has been one of the highest recorded, with the mills being supplied with more than 50 percent burnt cane daily in the early part of the crushing season.

This has been highlighted by Fiji Sugar Corporation CEO Bhan Pratap Singh who says burning before harvesting impacts juice quality, increases processing costs, and lowers sugar yields, negatively affecting both farmer and industry profitability.

He also says trash received in the cane has been recorded as abnormally high.

Singh further says the Rarawai and Lautoka Mills have had some plant failures in the earlier part of the season which the maintenance teams have resolved, and operations have normalised.

The CEO says Labasa Mill has had an exceptionally good season with minimal plant failures where most mill stoppages have been related to poor cane supply to the mill.

He further says overall, the three mills have faced significant challenges with varying degrees of impact on the performance metrics.