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Problems with cane supply and upgrading works in Fiji’s sugar mills caused a significant drop in cane and sugar production in the industry in 2009, the Reserve Bank of Fiji says.
In its latest monthly economic review, the RBF said a total of 2.2 million tonnes of cane were crushed to produce 167,664 tonnes of sugar last year.
Compared with the performance in the 2008 season, cane and sugar production fell by 3.3 and 19.4 percent, respectively, it said.
“The significant fall in sugar output is due to low cane supply to the mills as well as problems faced by the upgraded mills in the earlier months of the season. The total cane-to-sugar ratio for the 2009 season was 13.4 compared to the ratio of 11.2 for the 2008 season, indicating deterioration in sugar quality.”
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has been reported by a local radio station as telling cane farmers in Olosara, Sigatoka, during a visit there this week that
Fiji’s sugar industry is facing tough times.
Bainimarama said government will do all it can to ensure that the industry survives.
He said government is working on solutions to keep the industry viable and sustainable.
