Fiji Sugar Industry Facing Fertilizer-Based Crisis

(Fiji Times)
Fiji’s already troubled cane sugar industry is in danger of seeing yields drop further because of a fertilizer shortage, the Fiji Times reports.

The National Farmers Union is warning that the coming year’s crop could fall to 2.1 million tons, down from the current year’s 2.3 million tons. The 2007 crop was 2.4 million tons.

The union blames South Pacific Fertilizers for not providing fertilizer on time to famers for the falling crop yields.

NFU President Sanjit Maharaj said the industry would not even be able to improve productivity to remain competitive in the global sugar market if fertilizer supplies do not reach farmers on time, the newspaper reported.