Ra focus on cane production
By MAIKA BOLATIKI
Members of the Ra Provincial Council unanimously agreed yesterday to improve sugarcane production in the province for the Rarawai Mill.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sugar, Lieutenant-Colonel Manasa Vaniqi confirmed this after speaking to the meeting delegation at Nukualoa Village.
In opening the meeting, Lieutenant-Colonel Vaniqi stressed the need to utilise unused land wisely.
Most of the lands are good for cane farming but were now left idle.
He said council members spoke of the difficulties they had faced when most were involved in cane farming.
The members said the cost of delivering cane from Ellington 1 and 2 were just too high, asking Government for help.
They also raised concerns about the cane access roads.
Currently, 50 per cent of cane crushed at the Rarawai Mill is from Ra.
However, Lieutenant-Colonel Vaniqi said this can improve if more idle lands are turned to cane fields.
He said Government would do its best to help cane farmers in Ra. The Permanent Secretary said he was impressed with the positive reactions on cane farming from the Council.
The meeting continues today.
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