𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧

Dr. Vinesh Kumar, Permanent Secretary for Multi-Ethnic Affairs & Sugar Industry, visited a farm on Friday (27.07.25) in the Lovu Sector of Lautoka to see firsthand a promising trial of a locally developed sugarcane harvester. The harvester, which began operations on Thursday, has already delivered its first batch of sugarcane to the mill.

This innovative machine, customized from an excavator with a specially designed grabber and cutter attachment, is tailored to efficiently harvest sugarcane from hilly terrain — a challenge many farmers face in the region.

Speaking with Sarita Devi, whose sons engineered the customized harvester and are currently using it on their farm, the Permanent Secretary praised the ingenuity and hard work behind the development. He expressed strong support for the initiative and emphasized the potential of the harvester to be a game-changer for farmers working in difficult landscapes.

The Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs & Sugar Industry will collaborate closely with the farmer to explore ways to replicate and enhance this technology. SRIF has been instructed to conduct a thorough assessment of the harvester’s capabilities and feasibility to ensure it can be scaled up for wider use.

Dr. Kumar’s visit underscores the Ministry’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting farmers with practical solutions that boost productivity and sustainability in Fiji’s sugar industry.