The Fiji Sugar Corporation is determined to ensure that mill breakdowns for the 2019 crushing season is reduced.

Chief Executive Officer Graham Clarke says this was a major problem especially at the Rarawai Mill in Ba.

Clarke says this is why they have invested millions of dollars in repair works to ensure the smooth running of mills around the country.

“We’ve got to realize that we are dealing with very old pieces of equipment and these mills have been around for a very long time but we reconginze that we have the capacity and ability to run them better. So the focus has been for the past two years to make our mills reliable.”

He says they are also targeting 1.9m tonnes of sugarcane to be harvested during this season and they are confident the farmers will be able to bring this in.

Clarke says from that they are expected to make around 210,000 tonnes of sugar which should give them about 5 bulk raw sugar shipments out of Lautoka and Labasa.

He adds this will also enable them to fully supply the local market and the Pacific market.