As 675 cane farmers are yet to begin harvesting, Minister for Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh has told the Opposition that rather than spending time on social media, they should go out to the farms, sit with the growers, share a cup of tea or coffee and bread with them on their farms and encourage and assist our farmers to begin harvesting.
While responding to a question in Parliament by Opposition MP Viam Pillay on the tonnage of cane remaining to be harvested in the Rarawai Mill area, Singh says 425 growers from the Lautoka and 250 from the Rarawai Mill area have not yet commenced harvesting a single stalk of cane this season, representing an estimated 12,915 tonnes of cane that remain unharvested.
He says as of 30th October about 32 percent of the total crop remains unharvested, while 68 percent has already been harvested in the Rarawai Mill area.
The Minister says in Lautoka Mill area, about 14 percent of the crop is still standing.
Singh says currently the Lautoka Mill is crushing about 25,000 tonnes per week, and after September fire, they are transferring an average of 2,400 tonnes of cane daily to Rarawai and Lautoka Mill.
The Minister says to date, a total of 74,494 tonnes of cane has been transferred from Rarawai to Lautoka for processing, costing government an additional $1.117 million in total.
He adds as they anticipate Rarawai Mill to resume crushing in the first week of December, they are confident that this all will accelerate the remaining harvesting operations.
With 242,200 tonnes of cane yet to be harvested, the Minister says they are confident they will be able to harvest it before the end of the season and before the rainy season sets in.
Opposition MP Parveen Bala has raised concerns that considering the current weather pattern, it is unlikely that all cane will be harvested and asks if there any provision for compensation for all those farmers whose cane will not be harvested.
Singh says he does not control rain, hurricane or cyclone but by God and if happens, they will then decide.
Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu says Singh does not control the weather but the government controls the money so they better give it to the farmers.
He says Singh suggested that the Opposition visit farms and share tea and bread with growers, but questions when Singh last did the same with farmers in Ba.
