FSC keeps changing dates for mill start: NFU

[posted 22 May 2009,1600]

The National Farmers Union is deeply concerned that the  Fiji Sugar Corporation's habit of changing dates for the start of mills for the 2009 crushing season will raise harvesting costs for farmers .

NFU general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry said FSC’s indecision and lack of mill preparedness was placing a heavy financial burden on cane farmers.

The Penang Mill which was to have begun crush on 18 May is malfunctioning and farmers have now been asked to delay harvesting for a week until Monday 25th May.

The Lautoka and Labasa Mills were to have begun rolling on 28th May but FSC has now deferred the start of crush to 9th June for both because the mills are not ready.

“Once a mill date is announced cane farmers have to engage harvesting gangs to begin cutting. But when crushing is deferred, they are forced to continue to pay the gangs and provide meals and accommodation for them. This creates additional financial costs for farmers at a time when they are already struggling to make ends meet,” said Mr Chaudhry.

“Something is very seriously wrong at FSC if it cannot accurately gauge the preparedness of its mills before announcing crushing dates for each mill area.

“The Sugar Industry Tribunal must take equal responsibility for this unsatisfactory state of affairs. The Tribunal is obviously accepting dates given by FSC without considering all factors and ensuring that there is credible evidence that mills are ready,” Mr Chaudhry said.

He called on the FSC and the Sugar Industry Tribunal to take their responsibilities seriously and ensure mills are ready before finalizing dates for the start of crush.