RESOURCE constraints are a major drawback in containing termite-infestation in sugarcane fields.
This according to Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) acting CEO Prem Naidu. He made the comment yesterday as a joint Operation Kadivuka survey continued between the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and SRIF.
“We are getting very limited funding to do all these surveys,” Mr Naidu said.
“The purpose of a survey is to do it in the shortest possible time. At the moment we have just one or two people working on this project and you look at all the cane belts in Fiji, its enormous. If we intend to do the survey in the shortest time, we need people, vehicles and funds.”
Mr Naidu said a comprehensive survey was the way forward in any attempt to contain the termite infestation in cane fields.
However, he said they would need adequate funding to boost the process.
He added a comprehensive survey on the whole cane belt would need a lot of resources and that would be the only way to ascertain the real status of termites in Fiji’s cane fields.
