A LITTLE over 280,000 tonnes of sugarcane have been processed and 26,000 tonnes of sugar produced so far.
And the Fiji Sugar Corporation said while cane quality had been good, supply remained an issue for one mill in the Western Division.
"Unfortunately, cane supply at Penang sugar mill is still quite erratic," said FSC's executive chairman Abdul Khan.
"Our field personnel have been working with the farmers, cutters and lorry operators to improve the consistency of cane supply."
Mr Khan said recent comments made by growers supplying the Penang mill about the lack of rail carts were not entirely correct.
However, he said FSC was ready to assist should there be a real need to boost rail cart numbers.
"Although I note the concern of the farmers, it appears that the issue has been partial and slow loading of the rail carts.
"Our field personnel are working with the cutters to remedy this situation. If necessary we will provide more carts," said Mr Khan.
While all three mills in the Western Division are now fully operational, cane supply and delivery has been an issue because of the poor condition of cane access roads and difficulties in enticing labourers to harvest crop.
Inmates from the Ba and Lautoka Corrections Centres have been deployed to harvest cane at the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji fields and also on private holdings to address the labour issue.
Meanwhile, government has allocated $3.5 million towards rehabilitating cane access roads in the country.