This time it was in Drasa outside Lautoka.
It was a time for FSC to unfold its plans for the industry to farmers.
“Redone with talking we done with planning and I’m very clear with what we have to do. My job now is to drive the team at FSC to focus on our new core business, this is very important we have a new core business at FSC,” said Graham Clarke – FSC CEO.
And this is to promote production of Sugar Cane in the country, Clarke says this is all possible through farmers and FSC working together from the first step of reducing the cost of farming.
“I hear about people talking $100 cane price than $140, $120 now $100 I’m hearing that’s wrong. If we demand a price that’s too high everybody is going to lift their costs and they will just follow the price so you lose the benefit higher price means you gonna pay more for everything rather what we should do is focus on the cost bring our cost down because if we do that that money goes in your pocket that’s profit.”
The FSC revealed to these farmers its plans of bringing cost effective services, tackling the transport cost from their farms to the mill and rejuvenate the railway system which consists of 670km of railway lines and yet delivers only 20% of the cane to the mill.
With its new management and a strategic plan mapped out, the FSC has assured a brighter outlook for the industry after hitting rock bottom last year. But they are largely requesting efforts and commitment from the farmers in driving the sugar industry forward and upward.