SUGARCANE farmers with dried up crop will be given first priority, says the Sugar Cane Growers Council.

CEO Sundresh Chetty said canegrowers who had been severely affected by the prolonged dry weather spell would have their crop harvested and processed first as the industry embarked on measures to reduce the impact of inclement weather on cane production.

"We are pleading with gang officials to review their harvest schedule and prioritise the cutting of cane from farms most affected by the dry weather," he said.

"It is critical that harvesting be conducted in this manner to reduce the impact of the extended dry weather on cane production and we are urging gang officials to work with affected farmers to get this done as soon as possible."

Mr Chetty also called on growers who had been severely affected to make this information known to gang leaders and field officers from the SCGC immediately.

"We cannot afford to lose large amounts of cane to the dry weather so the quicker this information is made known, the faster we will be able to assist growers who are suffering losses."

Farmers from across the Western Division have reported losses of up to 25 per cent in areas such as Ba and 50 per cent in some parts of Tavua because of the prolonged dry spell.

Source - http://www.fijitimes.com/