Harvest Boycott on Hold

(Posted on 4 June 2003, 9.15)

The proposed national harvest boycott by the National Farmers Union (NFU) has been temporarily put on hold, with the union currently monitoring the readiness of the four sugar mills.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting in Lautoka, NFU general secretary, Mahendra Chaudhry said that they had not decided to boycott harvesting yet.

Firstly, the workability of the mills will be reviewed and if they are in good conditions then only cane will be harvested to avoid financial problems for the farmers.

Generally the farmers start harvesting and mill breakdown causes lots of disruptions.

NFU will monitor the progress in conjunction with the Sugar Industry Employees Unions and then decide whether to boycott or continue with the harvest.