The National Farmers Union (NFU) has voiced serious concern over persistent issues at the Lautoka Sugar Mill, highlighting that no sugar has been produced so far and that crushed cane is going to waste, reported Fiji Times.
NFU general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry described crushing at the mill as an тАЬongoing disasterтАЭ.
тАЬIn the two weeks since operations began, the mill has experienced six breakdownsтАФthe most recent on Saturday, June 21,тАЭ Mr. Chaudhry said.
тАЬThe mill remains out of operation today (Monday, June 23). It also suffered a three-day breakdown last weekend (June 17) and only resumed late on Monday, June 19.тАЭ
According to him, the mill has been consistently troubled by issues with its boiler and diffuser systems, which have led to significant losses as cane juice and bagasse have spilled and gone to waste.
He also criticized the millтАЩs management for not releasing weekly crushing reports.
тАЬThere is no clear data on the amount of cane delivered so far, which points to serious losses for both farmers and the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC),тАЭ Mr. Chaudhry said.
He further accused FSC management of remaining silent amid the ongoing crisis.
тАЬThis is sheer incompetence and negligence. They began crushing knowing full well the Lautoka Mill was unprepared.тАЭ Chaudhry noted that farmers are suffering heavy losses, with harvested cane left to dry on trucks parked at the mill for days.
тАЬFSC is facing massive costs, and with the mill operating on an erratic stop-start basis, no sugar is being produced.
тАЬFarmers in Ba, Tavua, and Ra are also worried that similar problems might occur at the Rarawai Mill, which is expected to begin crushing later this month.тАЭ
He called on the Prime Minister to intervene and hold Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh accountable.
