ange Over From
p. 69 · Read in the full issue
Rt Advises
Ewa
ange Over From ugar Production
I chief manager in Fiji of le CSR (Mr. A. R. Rourke) working in close co-operation officials of the Department of ilture on plans to ensure a h transition from sugar cane ler crops in the Rewa Delta \ the next three years. m it announced in January the Nausori mill would close e end of the 1959 crushing i the then chief manager (Mr.
Elliot) gave an assurance that uld provide worthwhile help II with the problems affecting iture of those engaged in the industry along the Rewa CSR brought to Fiji from i Guiana a prominent plant •legist. Dr. H. Evans, to on alternative uses to which md could be put. It also ited a resettlement manager I. L. Chalmers) at Nausori to inate activities connected with ansition. a meeting with canegrowers’ entatives after his study of rea Dr. Evans expressed his n that the Nausori area was suited for economic sugar ition, but that the land at it under sugar cane could ain its productivity under crops. He recommended ig perennial crops such as coffee, tea, bananas and pepper, which flourished best lower light intensity con
ditions. These crops would provide a more or less permanent soil cover and would reduce soil erosion.
Dr. Evans said that ground provisions and vegetables could also be grown on some of the better drained soils with animal industries and rice-growing on the less well drained lands. He emphasised the need for considerable improvement in the main drainage systems, and better internal drainage of individual farms.
To ensure a smooth changeover wide extension is planned of the plant nutritional experimental work already being carried out in the Nausori area by the Agricultural Department and CSR technical staffs.