Suva : Arvind Singh, a sugarcane farmer from Ba, is urging the Government to build a modern sugar mill for Viti Levu as a solution to the frequent breakdowns of the mills in Lautoka and Ba, according to The Fiji Times.
The persistent issues with Ba’s Rarawai mill have caused significant delays, with over 100 lorry drivers parked outside the facility since last week due to ongoing breakdowns.
“As a farmer, I’m deeply worried about the situation with the sugar mills. This has been a long-standing issue, not something new,” Mr. Singh stated. “Every time the crushing season starts, the mill fails. It’s time for the Government and relevant authorities to seriously consider constructing a new mill, which is the only viable solution.”
Mr. Singh emphasized the need for a new, modern mill to permanently resolve the issue. “This old mill can’t keep up. We’re patching it up every year, but it’s not sustainable,” he said.
He also highlighted the financial inefficiency of continually repairing the ageing mill. “We’re throwing away millions of dollars on temporary fixes. Building a modern mill would be a more efficient use of funds,” he noted. “We need a state-of-the-art mill in Viti Levu, and the older ones should be phased out.”
Mr Singh pointed out that Ba, Tavua, and Rakiraki have abundant sugarcane, whereas the areas of Sigatoka, Nadi, and Lautoka are seeing a decline in sugarcane production each year.
He called for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the sugar industry’s survival. “It’s essential for everyone involved to come together to support the industry. This is the only way to ensure farmers’ livelihoods and prevent lorry drivers from spending nights waiting outside the mill,” he remarked.
Questions sent to Fiji Sugar Corporation CEO Bhan Pratap Singh did not reply to the questions sent to him.
