Unapproved cane variety reduces sugar output
Fiji Sugarcane Issues: Sugar Research Institute CEO Dr. Vinesh Kumar reveals that 20% of Northern Division’s sugarcane is of unapproved varieties, leading to low juice and sugar yield. Farmers are bypassing approved seed planting guidelines, causing significant production challenges. Kumar emphasized that soil testing is provided to guide proper cane variety planting. A policy mandates the removal of unapproved cane by 2026, or mills will reject it. This aims to improve cane quality and ensure better yields.
Sugarcane farmers are not following the process of planting approved cane varieties and this has resulted in heavy cane that produces little juice or no sugar at all, says Sugar Research Institute CEO Dr Vinesh Kumar.
Addressing a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Wednesday, Mr Kumar said about 20 per cent of sugarcane production in the Northern Division were of unapproved cane seed variety.
“All farmers are to provide or plant or supply to the mill the approved varieties,” Mr Kumar said.
“We at SRIF (Sugar Research Institute of Fiji) do soil testing and we tell the farmers, ‘this is the variety you have to plant’, given the type of soil, environment and other factors.”
Mr Kumar said “somebody, somehow” got access to an unapproved variety and they started multiplying.
“I think the figures we have and what has been the knowledge of the industry is that about 20 per cent of the production in the Northern Division is unapproved variety.
“The challenges we face in the fields is that now farmers have become smarter than us and they are aware of it.
“Even when the cane planting grant was given, there’s a specific process where we certify the seed before planting it. There is a team that goes around certifying the seeds.
“But the farmers defeat that system and plant anywhere with these unapproved seeds and mix it with other varieties as well.”
Mr Kumar said there was “a defiance of farmers” in the division, “so there is a policy in place that by 2026, farmers will have to get rid of them or else mills won’t be accepting these canes”.
Source Link : https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/unapproved-cane-variety-reduces-sugar-output/
