Prolonged drought conditions linked to the El Nino phenomenon have had a significant effect on the sugarcane harvest for 2024, prompting the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) to express concerns about fulfilling one of its shipment commitments.
The FSC has made arrangements to ship approximately 84,000 tonnes of sugar, which includes a shipment to the United States and two shipments to a refiner in Korea. Additionally, the company plans to supply around 35,000 tonnes of sugar to local and regional markets.
FSC’s chief executive officer, Bhan Pratap Singh, indicated that the planned fourth shipment now appears unlikely due to a revised sugar production forecast. The initial estimate of 153,021 tonnes has been downgraded to 121,272 tonnes.
Singh stated that the original forecast for November 2023 had projected a cane production of 1.51 million tonnes for 2024; however, due to ongoing drought conditions, the updated projections as of August 2024 have decreased to 1.30 million tonnes.
He noted that the effect of the extended drought is not only hindering the 2024 crop but is also jeopardizing the 2025 crop season, as poor planting occurred during critical planting months from March to July, which negatively affected the establishment of harvested ratoon crops. Singh mentioned that despite potential rainfall in the coming months, the risks associated with late planting and lower productivity are considerable concerns.
The FSC is actively monitoring the situation and remains dedicated to assisting farmers during these difficult times, exploring various strategies to mitigate the effects of drought in future crop cycles.
Recent data from FSC indicates severe reductions in rainfall recorded at local mills, with Lautoka mill seeing an 82 percent decrease, Rarawai mill experiencing an 87 percent drop, and Labasa reporting a 59 percent decline. Singh commented that these significant rainfall deficits contributed to a 20 percent decrease in crop output at the mills located on Viti Levu and a 4 percent decline at the Labasa mill.
As of August 12, 2024, the Lautoka mill had processed 208,768 tonnes of cane, yielding 16,066 tonnes of sugar. The Rarawai mill crushed 153,564 tonnes of cane, producing 13,677 tonnes of sugar, while Labasa processed 239,388 tonnes of cane, resulting in 23,796 tonnes of sugar.