On Fiji’s Rewa[?]

Sugar Is Out And Rice Is "In On Fiji’s Rewa[?]

Six months ago the veteram sugar mill on the banks oj Rewa River, at Nausori, grow a halt for the last time. In 1 a very different set of machi sprang to life again in the\ building, and the CSR was in ness as a rice milling concem:m Rice Ltd.

AS the mill plans have been on the farmers have also 1 busy—although, in some I rather tardily. In recent years! 10,000 acres of the Rewa Valley been under cane, and about' acres under rice. Now that sus not being milled there, about; acres have been put under J but since a Government sur? 1958 classed only about 6,100 as fully suitable for rice, the chi over has probably been excellej this reckoning.

Much of this year’s rice, ho\ was planted late, and the valle; has had a dry season and some ous attacks by disease and pe In June, it was impossible tc mate what the total rice yie the Rewa would be, or how of it would go to the new CSB Some Indian-owned mills wen to be buying at a somewhat 1 price.

Fiji’s total rice acreage is i vicinity of 40,000 acres. Ai yield is about 14 cwt to the j comparatively high on w standards.

"Not So Bad"

Provided moisture content above 16 per cent., long grat medium grain will be paid 1 CSR at £3O and £26 a to spectively.

A PIM correspondent in Sui ports that while there is grumbling of farmers at the and at methods of delayed pa (60 per cent, of the value c livery, 40 per cent, three rr later with the possibility of a at the end of the season) the already signs that many it who have been in the Rews business all their lives are th that after all rice may not bad.

They have also realised it 1 sible for them to increase 1 yields (even on average yielj CSR estimates that the rice fa gross takings would be abou per ton as compared with £1 cane).

Meanwhile much of the old sugar milling equipment it sold as scrap.