Less and less Fijians are interested in cutting cane.
Fiji Sugar Corporation Chief Operation Officer Navin Chandra says they are looking at solutions to this problem one of which is to bring in groups of people.
Speaking to FBC News, Chandra says they are working with the Methodist Church to have come circuit members cut cane for church projects.
“For example, in Ra, the circuit there will be allocating 400 cutters to cut cane this year. We are looking for similar things in the other areas or circuits as well. So, that’s being finalised now.”
Chandra says they’ve also met with the Deputy Corrections Commissioner who has confirmed there will be gangs from corrections centres going out to harvest cane.
Meanwhile, he says at the moment they are looking at how getting overseas cutters will fit into their system.
Chandra says it is a longer term plan but at the moment they want to allow work for locals first.
He adds, at the moment there are 60 mechanical harvesters throughout the country that will help farmers in cane cutting.
Chandra says these harvesters can take care of about 30 to 40 percent of cane that is on flat land.
