The Permanent Secretary for the Sugar Industry, Dr. Vinesh Kumar, recently visited the Lautoka Sugar Mill to engage directly with lorry drivers affected by the closure of the Ba Mill. During the meeting, drivers expressed their frustrations over long waiting times for offloading cane and slow quota allocations. Accompanying Dr. Kumar were the Lautoka Mill General Manager Ilaitia Ratumainaceva and the Acting Cane Logistics Manager, highlighting the importance of addressing these operational challenges collectively.
Dr. Kumar acknowledged the concerns and emphasized the need for better planning by the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) in managing cane delivery logistics. In response, the General Manager committed to working collaboratively with the drivers to resolve these issues. The Permanent Secretary praised both farmers and lorry drivers for their resilience and reiterated his commitment to ensuring smooth operations at the mills.
Further efforts include a meeting convened by Dr. Kumar with the Chief Executive Officers of sugar industry institutions. This meeting aimed to align priorities and address operational challenges across the industry, with particular focus on improving the quota system for manual laborers engaged by farmers. Dr. Kumar directed the Sugar Industry Tribunal, along with the Sugar Cane Growers Council and FSC, to work swiftly in implementing solutions to support farmers and minimize disruptions.
The Ministry of Sugar has underlined its dedication to collaborating with various stakeholders to optimize the harvesting, transportation, and processing of cane, ensuring the industry’s continued progress despite recent setbacks.
This initiative follows ongoing efforts and commitments from the FSC to enhance operational efficiency across the industry, reflective of prior incidents where the Lautoka Mill faced mechanical challenges, underscoring the need for improved maintenance protocols. Despite these challenges, the proactive steps pledge optimism for a more resilient and productive future within Fiji’s sugar industry. Collaborative efforts and strategic improvements are pivotal to overcoming current obstacles, ensuring a robust sugar sector that effectively supports farmers and contributes positively to the local economy.