The Rarawai Mill

Sugarcane farmers in Tavua are hoping there will be minimal breakdowns at the Rarawai Mill this season.

Farmers from Ba and Tavua incurred extra expenses last year as they had to transport their cane to the Lautoka Mill.

Tavua cane farmer Sundrasan Reddy says it will be expensive for farmers if they have to transport their cane again to Lautoka this season.

“More money to pay cutters, more money to pay the lorry for transport and this are extra for the farmer and so there is less money for us.”

Another cane farmer from Tavua Rajendra Singh says he hopes the Mill will be ready for crushing next month without encountering any further issue.

“All the farmers are ready and everybody is ready but the Mill is not and last year the Mill was a big problem it was really in a bad condition and farmers lost plenty cane but we hope the Mill will be okay this season.”

The Fiji Sugar Corporation has invested $9.3m for the refurbishment of the boiler room at the Rarawai Mill and FSC is confident this will reduce breakdowns this season.

Meanwhile, the Ba Mill starts crushing on the 8th of next month.