Cost Of Producing Copra

In Fiji

THROUGH members of the Fiji Copra Advisory Committee, an inquiry was made last December into the present costs of producing copra in the Colony. (First-grade Fiji copra has a fixed sell ing price of £l6/12/6 Fijian.) Few planters keep detailed accounts, but the majority of the Committee agreed that the following figures are fairly representative of costs of production per ton, on the beach:

These figures are based on present con ditions when labour is scarce. If labour were available, it is considered that more weeding would be done and that weeding costs would be in the vicinity of 9/- per ton. Neither do the above prices include interest on capital—which could be placed at approximately £l/5/ —making the total £9/6/- per ton on the beach.

During the past few years, labour shortages have meant that weeding and general maintenance of estates has fallen into arrears; planting has been entirely neglected. Therefore, as soon as labour does become available, these items will require considerable costly attention if the estates are to be adequately main tained.

£ s. d.

Collecting and cutting 1 18 6 Transport 13 0 Drying 7 6 Bags and twine 9 0 Bagging and shipping 2 0 Sirdars, cooks, milkman, etc. .. 17 6

Supervision

1 0 0 Weeding 3 0 Maintenance, fences, roads, tools, etc 10 0 Fire insurance on buildings and copra 2 6 Lahd rent 10 0 Depreciation of buildings, driers, etc 9 0 Depreciation of palms 10 0 General expenses 2 0 Total £7 14 0