‘Increase in fertiliser use impacting cane and waterways’

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Yaladro Farmers’ Co-operative President Rajendra Raghlu raises his concerns during the Sugar Cane Lorry Drivers Consultation in Ba. Picture: REINAL CHAND

An increase in fertiliser use by farmers to boost dwindling sugarcane crops in Yaladro Sector, Tavua, is having a detrimental impact on the cane and waterways, according to the local farming association.

Yaladro Farmers Cooperative president Rajendra Raglu said the region, which used to harvest more than 16,000 tonnes of sugarcane about 20 years ago, now struggles to produce 9,000 tonnes of what was once considered ‘green gold’.

While escalating labour, cultivation, harvesting and transport costs are among the reasons for the decline in production, Mr Raglu said climate change and soil degradation top the list.

“We have more rain, more times, more heavier and for much more longer than ever before,” he said.

“We had five floods this year alone and the impact it has had on our cane crop will be known as the season progresses, but one thing for sure it will be significant.”

He said the floods had washed away much of the top soil that contained vital nutrients for cane production from farms on the banks of the Nasivi River.

Mr Raglu said soil degradation had been exacerbated by the rise in fertiliser use on crops by farmers, who are trying to combat shrinking sugarcane production.

“You can’t blame them,” he said.

“They don’t completely understand the implications of climate change and how to mitigate the impacts, but they know that cane yield has declined, so they add more fertiliser with the understanding production will increase.”

His sentiments were shared by Arun Sharma, a prominent cane grower in Ba, about 30km down the Kings Road on Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island.

He said the impact of increased chemical fertiliser use on the cane and marine ecosystems is a worrying trend.

“They don’t realise that by doing this, they are also adding to chemicals entering our waterways and contributing to climate change,” said Mr Sharma.

“And this issue has been made worse in Fiji because of mono-cropping.

“Top soil loss combined with fertiliser use over decades has made the soil very tired.”

 

RESEARCH SUPPORTS LACK OF INFORMATION IS AN ISSUE

Mr  Raglu and Mr Sharma’s observations about climate change align with an AusAID funded Pacific Community (SPC) study ‘Vulnerability of Pacific Island agriculture and Forestry to Climate Change’.

The 2016 study suggested that warming of even 1.5–2 degrees Celsius would adversely impact on global food production, including agricultural commodity and food production in the Pacific.

The study also said information on the impacts of climate change on Pacific agriculture “is generally sparse and piecemeal.”

Farmers in Ba and Tavua in February this year spoke to The Fiji Times about the impact of climate change and soil degradation on their farms.

Many said despite playing second fiddle to tourism over the past decade and a half, the sugar industry remained a key contributor to Fiji’s GDP.

Prime Minister and Minister for Sugar Voreqe Bainimarama has said on numerous occasions that the sugar industry “is here to stay.”

While delivering his keynote address at the 57th Session of the International Sugar Organisation Council Meeting virtually in November last year, he said “as we map out our economic recovery with hope for a COVID-19 vaccine in sight, we will lean on agriculture, and on the Sugar Industry, to help us rebuild.”

This story was made possible through support from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Australia Pacific Climate Partnership.

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