Fiji Presented at the 8th IAPSIT International Sugar Conference

The Director of Planning, Policy & Research Ms. Reshmi Kumari for the Ministry of Sugar Industry, delivered an insightful presentation on “Mechanization and Sugarcane Production in Fiji” at the 8th The International Association of Professionals in Sugar & Integrated Technologies IAPSIT Conference, held from September 16 to 18 in Vietnam.

In her presentation, she emphasized the pivotal role of mechanization in enhancing the efficiency and profitability of Fiji’s sugarcane industry. She highlighted that mechanization has significantly benefitted farmers by reducing harvesting costs, particularly in flat land areas.

“Farmers utilizing mechanical harvesting benefit from a regulated rate of $21.70 per tonne, compared to $25 per tonne for those relying on manual labor. However, when factoring in additional costs such as accommodation, food, utilities, and transportation for manual harvesting, farmers can incur expenses up to $32 per tonne—32% higher than mechanical harvesting,” she conveyed

Ms. Kumari also addressed the concerning trend in productivity among cane cutters, noting a decline of nearly 50% over the past 15 years. The average output per cane cutter dropped from 233 tonnes per season in 2009 to just 118 tonnes in 2021. While factors such as mill stoppages and workforce capabilities may contribute to this decline, further research is needed to determine the underlying causes.

The presentation also covered the mechanization of cane cultivation, highlighting that a total of 142 Tractor Service Providers (TSPs) are registered with the Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited. These TSPs will offer essential services including ploughing, harrowing, spraying, and tilling. The Ministry will closely monitor the efficiency of this new TSP model over the next few years.

The Ministry of Sugar Industry has proactively supported the Farm Mechanization strategy, investing approximately $3.5 million from 2017 to 2023 to procure 52 mechanical harvesters, 20 tractors with implements, 12 planters, and 16 fertilizer applicators. The Ministry plans to continue supporting these initiatives in its 2024-2025 budget and explore suitable mechanical harvesting solutions for manual farmers.

Additionally, the IAPSIT conference recognized outstanding contributions to the ASEAN sugar sector, presenting 38 awards to researchers, policymakers, scientists, farmers and industry leaders. Ms. Kumari was honored with an award for her significant contributions to Human Resource Development and Capacity Building in the sugar industry.