Fiji cane farmers devastated by Cyclone Winston

Transcript

Severe damage wrought by cyclone Winston in Fiji has left the country's sugarcane farmers devastated coming on the back of a hard year of drought in 2015.

The president of the Lautoka Cane Producers Association says farmers in Lautoka, Ba Tavua and Rakiraki are the worst affected with widespread destruction not only to crops but homes and infrastructure.

Parbindra Singh told Koroi Hawkins that Winston dashed farmers' hopes for a better harvest in 2016.

PARBINDRA SINGH: We have really experienced, this is one of the, it was one of the bad cyclones I would say, because though it did not last long but it did damage a lot. I went right out to Ba and Tavua today just coming from that side, that side is very worse.

KOROI HAWKINS: And in terms of the difficulties that the industry the sugar cane industry was facing before the cyclone coming into this how were those difficulties made worse now?

PS: See like prior to that it was really a bad drought so the cane has just started to pick up but the cyclone has made it worse and I would say probably if we are very lucky we will be able to get 30 percent of the crop compared to last year.

KH: And 30 percent compared to last year can you explain that a bit more how much was there last year?

PS: Okay, like last year we have harvested about 1.8 million tonnes of cane. This year probably if we would be able to get 600 thousand tonnes of cane we could be much happier probably.

KH: And would the 1.8 million tonnes be your, better, a good year of harvest or is that affected by drought harvest?

PS: It was affected by drought, normally, this year we had thought to get go up to 3 million but definitely it will not but comparing with last year definitely we will probably have 30 to 40 percent of cane.

KH: And um there is some reports that you are probably considering holding of on this year's harvest so you have a larger harvest next year is that something that will be talked about in the meetings tomorrow?

PS: Yes, yes definitely because now what we are thinking of is that 2016 has gone worse but we are thinking of what we can do for 2017. Because I will be also writing to Fairtrade International and Fairtrade Australia, New Zealand seeking that assistance from them and as far as network of Asia Pacific producers is concerned.

KH: And what kind of assistance would you be seeking?

PS: Like at the moment we are not able to sell Fairtrade Sugar. If somehow or the other we are able to sell Fairtrade Sugar we would be able to get some premium and by getting that premium we can assist our members and community at large.