The Rarawai Sugar Mill has officially concluded operations for the 2025 harvesting season, despite numerous appeals for an extension. As of yesterday, Ba cane farmer Atish Kumar reported that growers received their final quota for cane delivery ahead of the mill’s closure late last night.
Kumar expressed frustration as many farmers struggled to harvest their crops within the limited time frame, noting, “A lot of us really struggled last week trying to quickly cut our cane.” He highlighted that despite working tirelessly, many were unable to deliver all of their cane to the mill, with some farmers in the Rakiraki region not managing to harvest any cane at all. “There is a number of cane farmers in the Pakistan sector that has not harvested a single stick of cane,” Kumar stated, attributing this to adverse weather conditions that hindered transport access to farms.
The Rarawai mill experienced a brief shut down, closing at around 4 PM and reopening for a final period at 8 PM, showcasing the challenges faced in maintaining operations during the harvest. The Sugar Cane Growers Council confirmed that over 85,000 tonnes of cane went unharvested this year.
In light of these difficulties, the National Farmers Union has called for compensation for the losses suffered by farmers. General Secretary Mahendra Chaudhry proposed a payment of $35 for each tonne of cane that remains unharvested, emphasizing that the growers faced immense pressure during this season due to milling failures and external issues beyond their control.
The situation sheds light on the ongoing struggles of cane farmers in the region, but there remains hope that concerted efforts for compensation and support may provide relief to those affected by this challenging season.
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