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2019 Annual Report Sugar Research Institute of Fiji PARLIAMENT OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY PAPER NO.

172 OF 2019 2019 ANNUAL REPORT D R O W E R O F 1 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT FOREWORD Two tropical cyclones – TC Mona in January and TC Sarai in December brought heavy rainfall and affected the cane production.

There was an increase of 0.1m tonnes of cane in 2019 compared to 2018.
The breeding program activities progressed smoothly in 2019, 337 crosses were set that included 152 bi-parental and 185 poly crosses using 57 female and 201 male parents.

A new flowering bed was established with 120 varieties from the germplasm collection and 20 overseas varieties from VISA Cane.

A total of 319 packets of fuzz was sown from the crosses made in 2019.

Fuzz germination was poor, and 4,200 seedlings were obtained.
The evaluation, selection and advancement of varieties from different stages in the plant breeding program were carried out successfully.

One promising variety LF11-233 has been identified and seed cane multiplication was done in 2019 with the intention of planting the large mill trial in 2020.A project was initiated to study the effect of cane delay on sugar losses and the results showed that losses were accelerated after 48 hours.
A total of 1517 soil and 72 foliar samples were analysed for fertilizer recommendations and research trials.

The protection of the industry against diseases and pest is a high priority task and the Institute has managed this very well.

Routine screening of the major disease in Fiji, Fiji leaf gall (FLG) disease continued during the year.

A pot trial was conducted to screen selected sugarcane varieties for their response and tolerance to plant parasitic nematodes.
As part of the integrated pest management of the major pest Cane Weevil Borer (CWB), 160 split bait traps were placed in farmers’ fields.

The Crop Protection unit inspected 1959 farms covering an area of 6424 hectares and removed 3112 diseased FLG stools.

Fiji is the only country in the world that has not been affected by SMUT disease.

An incursion plan in collaboration with the Biosecurity has been put in place to encounter this disease.
Three trials were conducted on nitrogen fixing bacteria and no significant changes were observed on yield.

One hundred fourteen farms were surveyed for termite infestation out of which 20 farms were infested.

The production of hot water treatment seed cane continued during the year.

The tissue culture laboratory that was set up last year started culturing of cane to produce seedlings for planting.
2000 tissue culture seedlings were planted in the field and approximately 10,000 seedlings are in the laboratory to be planted next year.

The Institute continued to disseminate information through the technology transfer program to the farmers.

Under this program on field demonstrations on key issues that will improve production are conducted.

In 2019, soil health improvement was the major topic under technology transfer and 15 green manuring trials were established.
The crop used in these trials was black gram.

I acknowledge the contributions from all the staff in our substations and the head office for their support and commitment to the Institute and I would also like to thank the Chairman and other board members for their guidance and support.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Prem N. Naidu PARLIAMENT OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY PAPER NO.
172 OF 2019 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI D R O W E R O F 2 2019 ANNUAL REPORT MISSION STATEMENT To advance the industry by excellence in technology transfer emanating from research results through science that supports innovative activities in sugar related industries and to make the Fiji Sugar Industry productive and sustainable.
BOARD MEMBERS Professor Rajesh Chandra - Chairman Dr. Sanjay Anand Mr. Graham Clark Ms. Reshmi Kumari Professor Ravendra Naidu Mr. Ashween Nischal Ram Mr. Raj Sharma SCIENCE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBERS Professor Ravendra Naidu - Chairman Dr. Sanjay Anand Mr. Ashween Nischal Ram Mr. Graham Clark T N E M E T A T S N O S S M I I 3 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI CONTENTS 2019 ANNUAL REPORT FOREWORD ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 MISSION STATEMENT ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Board Members ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Science Audit Committee Members .......................................................................................................... 3 CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................................... 5 Meteorology ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Crop Improvement .................................................................................................................................. 18 Crop Management ................................................................................................................................... 29 Crop Protection ........................................................................................................................................ 51 CROP PRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 70 Seed cane Production ............................................................................................................................. 71 Tissue Culture .......................................................................................................................................... 73 Facp .......................................................................................................................................................... 75 TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ................................................................................................................................... 85 Overview .................................................................................................................................................. 86 Lautoka Mill .............................................................................................................................................. 87 Labasa Mill ............................................................................................................................................... 95 Rarawai Mill ............................................................................................................................................ 102 SRIF ESTATES ................................................................................................................................................ 105 Drasa Estate .......................................................................................................................................... 106 Labasa Estate .........................................................................................................................................107 Rarawai Estate ........................................................................................................................................107 APPROVED VARIETIES ..................................................................................................................................... 108 ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 113 GLOSSARY ..................................................................................................................................................... 114 FINANCIALS ................................................................................................................................................... 116 S T N E T N O C 4 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 5 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT METEOROLOGY Highlights 1.
TC Mona - developed in January, attained maximum intensity of a Category 2 system and inflicted heavy rain which resulted in flooding around the country.

2.

Looking at all the mill areas, May was the driest month while January, February, March and April were the wetter months.

3.

Labasa mill recorded the highest annual rainfall of 2353mm while Lautoka mill recorded the least annual rainfall of 1354mm.

4.
4.

Refresher training on “Climate Observation” was conducted by Sajiva during the latter half of the year.

5.
5.

National Climate Outlook Forum was held in Nadi in November to discuss the following: a. specific factors affecting user outcomes b. Co-design tailored products to address decision-making needs c. climate information, including uncertainties and limitations are communicated, interpreted and understood by stakeholders and users d. user views and obtain feedback for improvement of climate products, services and accessibility 6.
TC Sarai - formed towards the end of December and was a Category 2 system with significant rainfall being observed which led to flooding in some parts of Fiji.

Introduction The Meteorological Station at Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) is equipped with a range of meteorological instruments and maintained with the help of the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) at its head office in Lautoka and three other daily Climatological recording centers.
Climatological station is manned by observers who take climate readings of temperatures (dry bulb, wet bulb, maximum and minimum), earth temperatures situated at depths of 5cm, 10cm and 50cm, 24 hours rainfall, amount of cloud, visibility, wind force and wind direction at 9am daily.

At the end of each month, data is compiled in a designated F211 form and forwarded to the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre Nadi.
Similarly, rainfall figures from each sector from the eight districts are compiled and kept for our records.

The climate data is used to produce climate summary and predicting of weather forecast for the country.

The Research Institute provides a summary statement towards the Fiji Sugar Cane Rainfall Outlook (FSCRO) which becomes an advice to farmers on possible farm activities such as land preparation, cultivation, fertilizer application, weedicide application and harvesting for sugarcane areas.
SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 6 2019 ANNUAL REPORT El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) ENSO is an irregular cycle of persistent warming and cooling of Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

The warm extreme is known is El Niño and the cold extreme, La Niña.

Scientists now refer to an El Niño event as sustained warming over a large part of central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
This warming is usually accompanied by persistent negative values of Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), a decrease in the strength or reversal of the trade winds, increase in cloudiness in the Pacific and reductions in rainfall over most of Fiji which can, especially during moderate to strong events, lead to drought.

La Niña is a sustained cooling of the Pacific Ocean.
The cooling is usually accompanied by persistent positive values of SOI, and increase in strength of the trade winds, decrease in cloudiness and higher than average rainfall for most of Fiji with frequent and sometimes severe flooding, especially during the wet season (November to April).

Rainfall Fiji enjoys a tropical maritime climate without extremes of heat or cold.

The peak period for cyclones in the region is usually from November to April.

The annual average rainfall is between 2000mm to 3000mm.
From the table below, it can be seen that the total rainfall for all mills, except Lautoka, was in the annual average rainfall range.

Generally (table 1 below), May was the driest month while January to April were the wetter months.

Labasa mill recorded the highest annual rainfall while Lautoka mill recorded the least annual rainfall.
Table 1: Rainfall (mm) figures for All Mills for 2019 Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Total Average Lautoka mill Rarawai mill Labasa mill Penang mill Rainfall (mm) 220 Rain Days 20 Rainfall (mm) 523 Rain Days 19 Rainfall (mm) 491 Rain Days 28 Rainfall (mm) 295 Rain Days 28 Sum Rainfall (mm) SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 7 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Lautoka Mill Table 2: Monthly Rainfall figures for Lautoka Mill with the Long-Term Averages Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Sum Avg.
Monthly rainfall 220 220 187 239 6 12 61 10 86 86 69 158 1354 113 No.

of rain days 20 16 19 17 2 3 4 1 6 9 6 8 111 9 49 yrs.

Avg.

(1970- 2018) 360 327 320 195 86 68 50 69 74 101 134 194 1977 277 % of Avg.

61 67 58 123 7 18 122 15 116 85 52 82 68 41 Rarawai Mill Table 3: Monthly Rainfall figures for Rarawai Mill with the Long-Term Averages Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Sum Avg.

Monthly rainfall 523 214 314 278 4 127 49 13 131 85 108 190 2036 170 No.
of rain days 19 12 12 14 3 6 5 2 5 11 8 7 104 9 49 yrs.

avg.

(1970- 2018) 384 354 358 204 90 78 39 63 73 105 150 237 2135 302 % of avg.

136 60 88 137 4 163 126 21 178 81 72 80 95 56 Penang Mill Table 4: Monthly Rainfall figures for Penang Mill with the Long-Term Averages Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Sum Avg.

Monthly rainfall 491 272 270 369 15 127 29 41 85 185 57 414 2355 196 No.

of rain days 28 18 18 14 2 4 2 2 3 9 7 15 122 10 49 yrs.

avg.
avg.

(1970- 2018) 415 357 363 260 147 101 48 70 84 115 148 263 2370 198 % of avg.

118 76 74 142 10 125 60 59 101 162 38 158 99 99 Labasa Mill Table 5: Monthly Rainfall figures for Labasa Mill with the Long-Term Averages Monthly rainfall No.

of rain days 49 yrs.

avg.

(1970- 2018) % of avg.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Sum Avg.
SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 8 2019 ANNUAL REPORT ) m m ( l l a f n a R i 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 ) m m ( l l a f n a R i 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 ) m m ( l l a f n a R i 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Figure 1: Monthly rainfall for Lautoka mill 220 220 239 187 61 86 86 69 6 12 10 158 Months Figure 2: Monthly rainfall for Rarawai mill 523 314 278 214 127 4 49 13 190 131 85 108 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Months Figure 3: Monthly rainfall for Penang mill 491 369 272 270 414 127 15 29 41 185 85 57 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Months SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 9 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 4: Montly rainfall for Labasa mill 498 295 255 240 ) m m ( l l a f n a R i 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 197 160 75 44 97 53 56 20 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Months Table 6: Rainfall (mm) figures for each Sector of the Lautoka Mill Sector Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total Sector Avg.
Mill Avg .
Drasa Saweni Natova Legalega Meigunyah Yako Malolo Nawaicoba Lomawai Cuvu Olosara Figure 5: Total Rainfall received for each sector under Lautoka Mill 2369 2369 1681 1668 1767 1512 1669 1260 1423 1626 1022 ) m m ( l l a f n a R i 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Sectors T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 10 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Table 7: Rainfall (mm) figures for each sector of the Rarawai Mill Sector Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total Sect Avg.
Mill Avg.
Varoko 546 196 296 128 7 99 Mota Koronubu Rarawai Veisaru Varavu Naloto Tagitagi Drumasi Yaladro Figure 6: Total Rainfall received for each sector under Rarawai Mill 2721 2510 1767 2026 2035 1883 1633 1792 1782 1611 ) m m ( l l a f n a R i 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Sectors Table 8: Rainfall (mm) figures for each sector of the Penang Mill Sector Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total Sect Avg.
Mill Avg.
Ellington I 74 160 161 295 5 41 75 19 41 70 40 138 1116 93 Malau 295 255 240 475 22 64 52 17 75 41 97 160 1791 149 148 Nanuku 332 180 210 278 0 53 5 1 68 12 89 114 1341 112 Ellington II 375 333 275 785 27 170 163 57 120 73 184 304 2865 239 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 11 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT ) m m ( l l a f n a R i 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Figure 7: Total Rainfall received for each sector under Penang Mill 2865 1116 1791 1341 Ellington I Malau Nanuku Ellington II Sectors Table 9: Rainfall (mm) figures for each sector of the Labasa Mill Sector Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total Sect Avg.
Mill Avg.
Waiqele 518 362 269 369 16 130 48 50 79 135 140 267 2383 199 Wailevu 474 291 314 288 42 152 40 31 72 119 97 325 2245 187 Vunimoli 649 403 358 530 23 175 76 61 94 133 156 426 3084 257 Labasa 491 272 270 369 15 127 29 41 85 185 57 414 2353 196 214 Bucaisau 430 341 284 349 51 194 30 19 120 137 88 322 2365 197 Wainikoro 590 314 286 500 54 169 28 68 143 239 63 400 2852 238 Seaqaqa 596 234 372 336 21 110 107 36 70 160 291 345 2677 223 ) m m ( l l a f n a R i 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Figure 8: Total Rainfall received for each sector under Labasa Mill 3084 2383 2245 2353 2365 2852 2677 Waiqele Wailevu Vunimoli Labasa Sectors Bucaisau Wainikoro Seaqaqa T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 12 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Table 10: Total Rainfall Figures for all the Four Mills for the past 24 years Years Lautoka Rarawai Penang Labasa 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 ) m m ( l l a f n a R i 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R Figure 9: Total rainfall recorded by 4 mills in the past 24 years Years 13 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2716 2734 1585 3141 3655 2147 2418 1834 1568 1794 1429 2786 2612 2480 2321 2831 2894 2757 1654 1168 1773 2122 2971 2355 Lautoka Rarawai Penang Labasa Table 11: Meteorological data for Sugar Research Institute of Fiji, Lautoka 2019 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
 Oct Nov Dec Avg Relative Humidity (%) 50 yrs.
avg Air Temperature Mean Maximum 50 yrs.

avg Mean minimum 50 yrs.

avg Mean Highest maximum Lowest minimum Evaporation Raised pan Earth thermometers 5cm 50 yrs.

avg 10cm 50 yrs.

avg 30cm 4 yrs.

avg Temperatures The highest maximum temperature of 35℃ was recorded for the month of February and May while the lowest minimum temperature of 15℃ was recorded for the month of September.
Figure 10: Graph showing mean maximum, mean minimum and mean (maximum + minimum) with higest maximum and lowest minimum ) ℃ ( e r u t a r e p m e T 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month Mean Maximum Mean minimum Mean Highest maximum Lowest minimum T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 14 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Earth Thermometers The earth thermometers at SRIF are at depths of 5cm, 10cm and 30cm.
The 50 years average of thermometers at depths 5cm and 10cm were calculated to be 27°C and 26°C respectively.

The 30cm thermometer was newly installed in 2016, thus, the 4 years average calculated was 28℃.
31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 ) ℃ ( e r u t a r e p m e T Figure 11: Earth Thermometers at depths 5cm, 10cm and 30cm 30 30 29 29 29 29 27 27 27 27 28 28 26 29 28 28 28 27 27 25 25 25 25 26 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Months 5cm 10cm 30cm Evaporation The average evaporation for this year was calculated to be 203mm.

The pan is constantly monitored and cleaned for dirt/debris and algae growth.
Figure 12: Monthly evaporation compared with annual average 331 292 364 233 227 179 165 162 118 114 132 122 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Months Evaporation Average ) m m ( n o i t a r o p a v E 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 15 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI Relative Humidity The average humidity for the year was calculated to be 83%.

This value was 11% higher than 2019 ANNUAL REPORT the 50-year average.
Sunshine There is currently no sunshine recorder installed at the Drasa station (V77555) but a request has been made to FMS to have a recorder installed at the site.

National climate outlook forum A stakeholder consultation was held in Nadi in December.

Topics that were covered included; 1.

Products and services offered by FMS 2.

Translating climate outlook products into sector specific statement/advisories 3.

Group presentation of sector specific organisations 4.
Impact-based forecasting & risk-based warnings The main objective of the forum was to coordinate institutions and enable these partners to work together.

One way to understand the difference between weather, climate variability and climate change is to think about how they operate on different time scales.
Figure 15: Different timescales Some of the global trends that were looked into: temperatures GLOBAL TRENDS ocean acidification sea level rise T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 16 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Some of the climate projections included: 1.

Air Temperature - indicate that the annual average air temperature will increase in the future 2.

Ocean acidification - acidity of sea waters in the Fiji region will continue to increase over the 21st century 3.
Sea level - sea level is expected to continue to rise in Fiji over the 21st century.

4.
Tropical cyclones - projections tend to show a decrease in frequency of tropical cyclones Some of the climate products and services include: Climate Summaries Climate Outlook Early Action Rainfall (EAR) Watch Annual Climate Summary Sector Specific - Sugar Sector Drought Bulletin ENSO Update Data Bank & H C R A E S E R 17 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT CROP IMPROVEMENT Highlights ✓ Expansion of the current genetic pool with the introduction of 120 overseas varieties to the Dobuilevu arrowing bed.
✓ Successfully planted the large mill trial for promising variety LF11-233 Recommendation ✓ Manual harvesting of germplasm.

✓ Stage 4 varieties to be included into germplasm for expanding genetic base.

Germplasm The SRIF germplasm is located at Drasa Estate in Lautoka and at Rarawai Estate in Ba.

In the past years the evaluation and use of the germplasm has been limited.

Mechanical harvesting of the germplasm in Drasa and Rarawai has resulted in damage to stools and a loss of whole plots.
Some plots have mixed canes (volunteers) probably due to scattering of billets (canes) during harvesting.

Due to growth of these volunteer canes in the roadways (gaps) separating the plots was difficult.

In 2017 a project was initiated to replant the available varieties present in the old germplasm which was located in Drasa.

Total of 320 varieties were planted in Drasa and Rarawai in replicate plots.

These varieties are being evaluated and characterized.
The plant crop was evaluated in 2018 by sending samples to the small mill for biochemical analysis and each plot was harvested and weighed to get an estimate of yield.

This year 2019, second evaluation were conducted by using the same procedure and the data gathered was used to select varieties for the flowering bed.

Total of 120 varieties from Rarawai germplasm have been transferred to the flowering bed after the first ratoon evaluation.
The selected varieties are mainly with high POCS percentage and profuse flowering records.

After evaluating the plant and first ratoon crop few varieties have shown outstanding traits in terms of biochemical data.

Few have high POCS percentage, some have high fiber, and some have high dry weight.

Field assessment was carried out to T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 18 2019 ANNUAL REPORT note some physical characters.
Few varieties have shown desirable features in terms of vigorous stool growth, stalk size and heights.

Figure1: Weighing of Drasa & Rarawai Germplasm These 640 varieties (replicate of 320 varieties) will be characterized according to desirable traits and will be planted accordingly in different plots for breeding in 2020.
Flowering Beds T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R Figure 2: Planting 120 varieties in Dobuilevu flowering bed (transferred from Rarawai germplasm) 19 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Flowers used for 2019 crossing was from the flowering bed in Dobuilevu, germplasm in Rarawai and Drasa and also farmer’s field in Vunikavikaloa.

The flowering beds consists of 10 beds, 240 plots and 480 varieties to choose from for crossing.
Some of the varieties have flowered profusely while others did not flower at all.

A total of 120 varieties transferred from Rarawai germplasm have been planted in Dobuilevu.

The flowers from these varieties will be used during the 2020 crossing season.

Total of 20 varieties from visa cane have been planted in propagated plots in Dobuilevu which will be introduced to the flowering bed in 2020.

Crossing The 2019 crossing season commenced on 13th May and ended on 15th June.
Total of 337 crosses were set-up (152 bi-parental and 185 poly) using 57 varieties as female and 201 varieties as male parents.

Table 1: Cross combination count Crossing combinations Bi-parental Poly crosses Experimental 32 25 6 Female Male 57 144 12 The original plan was to set-up Bi-parental crosses in the new crossing shed, but the breeding shed was not ready therefore 2 temporary tents were set- up for poly-crosses and bi-parental crosses were set in the open without lanterns.
The varieties available from the germplasm to set crosses have almost exhausted as there has been no expansion of the collection.

All or most varieties in the flowering bed cannot be productively utilized because of space limitations for setting crosses, speed of flowering and timing of flowering.

When varieties flower early in the season, they are underutilized because of the limited number of varieties available and it is difficult to find desired parents to make the crosses.
The area available for setting crosses at the station is scattered over a large area.

It takes a long time to cover the area to tap the male flowers to shed pollen during anther dehiscence.

The actual time available for the pollen to be viable is between 20-25 minutes and it is not practical to pollinate all crosses in this time due to the large area that has to be covered.

The delay in tapping flowers could have an effect on seed set.
In addition, the variable climatic conditions (off season rainfall and morning dew) also affect pollination and fuzz germination.

In light of above concerns it is recommended that the photo period house or alternative is installed so that flowering is delayed in some early flowering parents and experimental crosses could be made.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 20 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 3: LEFT - Temporary tents for poly crosses RIGHT - Collected pollen at Dobuilevu Fuzz Sowing and Raising of Seedlings In 2019 fuzz sowing was delayed due to unviability of fuzz since no fuzz were in stock.

Sowing commenced on 26th July and ended on 14th August.

A total of 319 packets of fuzz were sown from the 2019 crossing.

Total of 184 packets germinated (58%) and produced 4200 seedlings.
The number of seedlings that germinate per cross varies substantially from as low as one to more than 460.

Early Stage Selection Plant breeding program consist of four different stages from fuzz sowing to varietal release.

In the stage one trials, the seedlings from the crosses are planted side by side in the field with the standards in rows of 20 seedlings.

The selection criterion is limited to the most basic inherited character i.e.

sugar which is estimated on the basis of the brix.


Brix is a measure of total soluble solids in cane juice.

In some cases, the clone appeal is taken into consideration in terms of physical appeal and agronomic desirability.

This year there were four series of stage one trials which are LF2016 and LF2017 which were brixed and LF2018 and LF2019 that were planted.
The four series in stage 1 is due to the rehabilitation program which was initiated after cyclone Winston left severe damages in the breeding program.

Efforts was put in place in previous years to rectify measures and put the program back on track but due to some factors such as fuzz availability and weather pattern played a major role in this back log.
LF2016 STAGE 1 The trial was brixed and selection was made in 2018 but due to severe drought after planting the germination percentage was less than 5% therefore it was ploughed out.

Brixing and selection was again carried out this year.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 21 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 4: LF2016 Stage1- Brixing and Selection TRIAL DETAIL The trial consists of 4800 varieties which was planted in 2017.
A total of 238 cultivars were advanced to single line six meters plot trial stage two.

The brixing and selection was carried out in September.

Table 2: Selection ranges Standard Varieties Qamea Naidiri Kaba Viwa Standards Average Brix 24.0 23.0 22.0 20.5 Selection Range (Brix) > 24.0 23.0 – 23.9 22.0 – 22.9 20.5 – 21.9 18.0 - 20.5 No of varieties Selected 35 67 81 44 14 Few selected varieties with desirable traits but had relatively low brix been also selected and will be assessed in stage 2.
LF2017 STAGE 1 This trial was planted on May 2018 and scheduled for evaluation in May 2019.

Due to the vigorous growth of cane in this trial, a decision was made to brix the trial earlier to avoid deterioration of seed cane material.

Pre-brixing was carried out in February and average brix for standards was used as the bench mark of selection.
Mana had the lowest brix mean of T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 22 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 12.8, Naidiri 13.8 and Kaba with the highest 15.0.

Since February falls in the grand growth phase, 10 varieties were randomly picked from the field for pre-brixing and all these varieties brix was above the lowest standard brix.
STANDARD Table 3: Commercial brix Commercial varieties Brix 1 Brix 2 Brix 3 Brix 1 Brix 2 Brix 3 Average VARIETIES Table 4: Test varieties brix Mana 13.0 14.0 12.0 11.0 15.0 12.0 12.8 Naidiri 10.0 15.0 15.0 13.0 15.0 15.0 13.8 Kaba 15.0 16.0 15.0 16.0 14.0 14.0 15.0 Variety 1504 1653 1783 1716 1646 1716 1731 1643 1643 1643 12.0 15.0 15.0 14.0 14.0 15.0 15.0 Average Brix 1 Brix 2 Brix 3 Brixing for the LF2017 Stage 1 was carried out in April.
The standard average brix had increased compared to pre-brixing in February.

Table 5: Brix selection range based on commercial varieties Standard Varieties Viwa Naidiri Kaba Mana Standards Average Brix 15.5 15.3 15.3 15.2 Selection Range (Brix) > 15.5 15.3 – 15.5 “ 15.2 – 15.3 14.4 - 15.2 No of varieties Selected 251 16 “ 13 10 Total of 290 varieties were selected and progressed to stage 2 trial.
Majority of the selected varieties had a higher brix than the four standards, 29 were within the range and 10 had lower brix than standard but got selected because of good physical appearance.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R LF2018 STAGE 1 Total of 6300 seedlings were planted as LF2018 Stage 1 in Rarawai Estate field 6 on 13th February.

The moisture level of the soil was in good condition due to continuous rain prior to the time of planting which enhanced seedling establishment.
23 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 5: Transplanting LF2018 Stage 1 LF2019 STAGE 1 The LF2019 series stage 1 single stools were planted in Field 6 at Rarawai Estate in December 2019.

4440 seedlings that were 98% of the total potted (4500) were transplanted in an area of 1.24 acres as single stools.

The field was irrigated prior to planting and also received rainfall (368.2 mm) within two weeks after planting.

The seedlings have established well.


Figure 6: LF2019 Stage 1 Seedling transplanted in Field 6 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 24 2019 ANNUAL REPORT LF2014 STAGE 2 FINAL ASSESSMENT According to the small mill analysis a total of 154 varieties were well above standard varieties (Brix, POCS, and Purity).

After the first-round field assessment and comparison with biochemical data, a total of 62 varieties were selected.
A total of 57 varieties were advanced to stage 3 observation plot trial.

Data record for these 57 varieties will be kept for further assessment on second ratoon crop.

LF2016 STAGE 2 Total of 238 clones advanced to Stage 2 single line trial.

The field was well prepared and irrigation was done pre and post planting when needed.

Among the selected clones, 10 are the hybrid progenies which will be closely monitored in stage 2 and stage 3 trials.
LF2017 STAGE 2 The LF2017 Stage 2 trial was planted in April 2019.

Total of 290 clones were selected for this Stage 2 trial.

The field was well prepared and irrigation was done pre and post planting.

Evaluation and selection for stage 3 will be carried out in 2020.

LF2014 STAGE 3 The trial was planted in October 2019.

The selection was carried out this year by reassessing the selected varieties using biochemical data and field evaluation.
Total of 57 varieties were selected and advanced to stage 3 observation plot.

All the maintenance work in this trial was done on a timely basis.

Advanced Stage Trials Advance Stage trials are the final set of trials done before identifying varieties with improved potential for commercial cultivation.
The seedbed for varieties identified in Stage 3 is established in advance and planted in the following year March-April planting season at all mill location thus referred to as multi location or Genetic x Environment assessment trials.

The trials are planted using statistical design (RCBD – randomized complete block design) in four replicates at each location and the biochemical, field and yield assessments are carried for 3 crop cycles – plant (P), first ratoon (1R) and second ratoon (2R).
The seed cane propagation for varieties showing good data in plant crop is initiated using seed cane form the Stage 4 trial as well as the Stage 4 seed bed.

These varieties are further scrutinized using first ratoon data and varieties are selected for farmer feel effect (FFE).

The T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 25 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT field observation data, disease data and biochemical data together with yield data form an integral part of selection.
In 2019, LF2012 series was in second crop cycle i.e.

first ratoon, LF2013 series was in first crop cycle i.e.

plant crop whilst LF2015 series was established and first crop cycle will be analysed in 2020.

Following are details of evaluation carried out for respective trials in 2019.

LF2012 Series The trials for this series were established in 2017 at all mill locations namely Rarawai, Drasa, Penang and Labasa and plant crop was evaluated in 2018.
In 2019, the second crop cycle assessments were carried out and the details of selection from Rarawai, Drasa and Penang are presented below.

The black highlighted are based on data being better or equal to standards (commercial varieties planted with the trial).
Table 6: Bio-chemical data for LF2012 varieties in 3 locations Rarawai Drasa Penang Variety LF12-112 LF12-114 LF12-153 LF12-154 LF12-2 LF12-22 LF12-233 LF12-253 LF12-255 LF12-276 LF12-282 LF12-31 LF12-34 LF12-40 LF12-63 LF12-74 LF12-76 Mana Naidiri Ragnar Tph Fiber Pocs Tsh Tph Fiber Pocs - - 9 11 10 3 11 10 12 8 8 9 11 9 8 12 10 7 11 11 10 9 Tsh Tph Fiber Pocs - Tsh 6 7 8 7 8 8 10 6 6 9 6 6 7 8 7 6 6 7 9 6 - better than data of standard varieties Based on the above presented data, LF12- 153, LF12-2 and LF12-40 are consistent at least at 2 mills whereas LF12-282 could be re-looked in second ratoon.
Except for LF12-40, the seed cane for other 2 varieties are already being propagated based on plant crop data.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 26 2019 ANNUAL REPORT LF2013 series The trials for this series were established at all mill locations in 2018 and first crop cycle was evaluated in 2019.
The data from two mill locations is presented below: Table 7: Bio-chemical data for LF2013 varieties in 2 locations Variety LF13-116 LF13-238 LF13-405 LF13-410 LF13-427 LF13-441 LF13-452 LF13-454 LF13-460 LF13-468 LF13-485 LF13-543 LF14-452 Mana Naidiri Rarawai Penang Tph 98 92 78 90 108 96 107 140 74 114 104 93 87 113 121 Fiber 8.6 9.7 9.0 9.0 8.9 8.0 9.6 9.8 9.8 9.1 8.1 15.4 10.2 7.8 9.8 Pocs 12.5 13.4 13.4 13.2 12.2 13.5 13.7 12.4 11.9 12.1 12.7 10.5 14.5 12.5 13.9 Tsh 12 12 8 12 13 13 15 17 9 14 13 10 13 14 17 Tph 104 50 77 82 98 85 68 122 113 131 100 86 - 99 87 Fiber 8.2 10.0 9.3 7.9 9.5 8.2 8.2 9.2 8.5 8.8 9.0 12.7 - 7.6 9.8 Pocs 9.4 11.7 9.4 9.5 11.7 10.4 10.5 8.8 8.2 9.3 10.7 7.7 - 10.4 11.2 Tsh 10 6 7 8 11 9 7 11 9 12 11 7 - 10 10 better than data of standard varieties T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 27 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI Figure 7: LF2013 harvesting 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Based on the above presented data, none of the varieties are adapted to both trial locations, instead, variety LF13-454 is better suited to Rarawai mill area with bio-chemical performance being better than the standard commercial varieties Mana and Naidiri.
Similarly, LF13-427 and LF13-485 are both suited for Penang (Rakiraki region) when comparing to the standard commercial varieties planted in the same location.

Farmer Feel Effect The five varieties from LF2009 series that were planted in 2 farms in 2018 were closely monitored and farmer feedback noted.

The variety highlighted (LF09-1707) below has been identified for large mill trial and seed cane propagation for this variety has been initiated.
Table 8: Bio-chemical data for LF2013 varieties in 2 locations P Variety LF09-1536 LF09-1558 LF09-1632 LF09-1707 LF09-635 Mana Kaba Naidiri *P – Plant, 1R – first ratoon, 2R – second ratoon Pocs 1R 2R 2R P Fiber 1R 10.9 12.9 12.3 13.5 10.1 12.7 11.2 12.7 9.5 15.5 9.3 13.3 9.6 12.0 11.0 13.1 Tph Tsh P 122 111 104 144 106 125 133 92 1R 105 122 114 125 104 128 118 102 1R 2R P 5.0 44 18.0 52 14.0 13.0 62 16.0 12.0 57 22.0 10.0 7.0 59 17.0 9.0 49 19.0 6.0 46 18.0 6.0 35 14.0 2R 6.0 7.0 9.0 7.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 Large Mill Trial LF2011 series The LF2011 series stage 4 was established in 2015 and one variety has been identified and currently seedbed has been established to plant LMT in March-April 2020.
The data for this variety in comparison to standards is provided in the table below.

The large mill trial for this variety is planned in year 2021 and to be released either same year or 2022.
Table 9: Bio-chemical data for LF2013 varieties in 2 locations Variety Fiber Pocs P 1R 2R P P 1R LF11-233 8.1 10.1 10.5 13.0 12.5 14.7 MANA 6.9 9.0 9.6 13.4 12.1 15.0 NAIDIRI *P – Plant, 1R – first ratoon, 2R – second ratoon 9.4 10.4 10.1 11.8 13.3 16.1 Tph P 91 125 135 2R 106 116 114 Tsh P 1R 2R P 77 13.8 12.8 11.3 62 16.0 15.0 10.0 70 14.0 18.0 11.0 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 28 2019 ANNUAL REPORT CROP MANAGEMENT Biochemical analysis of Sugarcane The small mil provides necessary information on cane such as %pol, %brix, %fiber and the %POCS on various ongoing trials.
These analyses also quantify the purity of sugarcane.

It is a vital aspect for varietal selection determination from initial stage till the final stage of breeding.

This analysis is carried out to quantify the quality of sugarcane in response to various agronomic practices, impacts of pest and diseases, experiment or as field audit.

A total of 2025 samples were crushed and analyzed in 2019.

The breeding trials had the majority of samples crushed and analyzed.
Figure 1: Summary of the Biochemical Analysis 2019 Low POCS-LTK Mill 2% CaneLoss 8% Pre-Harvest Brixing 2% Breeding 88% Breeding CaneLoss Low POCS-LTK Mill Pre-Harvest Brixing Experiment to determine the effect of Cane delay on Sugar Losses Abstract The impact of time delay between harvest to crush of green and burnt cane is one of the major issues facing the Sugar Industry in Fiji.
The delay contributes to juice viscosity, factory processing problem and sucrose deterioration of green and burnt cane from cut to crush.

Sucrose is the chief component of cane that is refined to table sugar.

It is a disaccharide which is composed of 2 monosaccharide (fructose & glucose).

An experiment was carried out to determine the sucrose deterioration in the green and burnt cane composing of 5 treatments (whole stalk, 6” billet, 8” billet, 10” billet, 12” billet).
This experiment was carried out over 10 days in a planned interval for crushing the samples and analyzing through NIR and Polarimeter.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 29 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Introduction Sugarcane is considered to be a perishable commodity which must be processed into sugar as soon as it is harvested (Sugar Tech 2009 Vol.11 No.2 pp.109-123 ref).
One of the major challenges in obtaining high recoverable sugar or sucrose is the delay between cut to crush which causes sugar losses in milling.

In sugarcane, sucrose is a chief component that is refined to table sugar.

The cut to crush delay lowers sucrose content which leads to the reduction of recoverable sugar and problem in milling (Gillian, E., Jacob, K., Anthony, P., Benjamin, L., (2008)).
A few of the sugar technologists have reported that several products cause sucrose deterioration and delay of cut to crush were used to determine factory processing difficulties (Eggleston, Legendre, & Richard 2001a, b, in press: Lionnet, 1996: Morel du boil, 1995).

The losses caused by delay from cut to crush is not quantified and is a problem as recoverable sugar reduces and Total Soluble Solids (TSS-Fiber) increases.
Materials and Methods The experiment was carried out over 10 days at the institute where 170 cane samples were cut from SRIF estate.

It was analyzed through the NIR, juice extracted through a cover press and read through Polarimeter and fiber weighed and oven dried for 3 days with the object of sucrose deterioration analysis in 10 days period.

There were 2 plots chosen for the experiment opposite to each other, one plot was burnt for the burnt cane samples.
The cane was burnt prior to the harvesting day, in the afternoon at 2pm.

Harvesting of the burnt and green cane was carried out at 6am the next day and sampling was done as soon as the cane was harvested.

Table 1: 5 treatments of the burnt and green cane Whole stalk 6-inch billet (6” billet) 8-inch billet (8” billet) 10-inch billet (10” billet) 12-inch billet (12” billet) Green ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Burnt ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ In a sample there were 6 stalks tied together, 85 samples were from burnt and 85 samples green cane.
The burnt cane was harvested first and sampled followed by the green cane.

The cane samples were cut into respective billet treatment size.

The billeted cane samples were stored into allocated caged bin.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 30 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The analysis procedure of each sample at different hour The analysis was carried out according to time delay as follows 0hr, 4hr, 8hr, 12hr, 16hr, 20hr, and 24hr for day 1 following by 30hr and 48hr on day 2.
Thereafter the analysis was carried out at 24hr interval from day 3 to day 10.

Results and Discussion In this experiment 5 treatments, Whole stalk, 6” billet, 8” billet, 10” billet and 12” billet of the Green and Burnt cane samples were analyzed.

There was only one commercial variety (Mana) that was used for the experiment.
It has been observed from the data that the total soluble sugar (TSS) ranges from 7%- 13% for green, 7%-13% for burnt within 10days and sucrose range falls between 17%-7% for green and burnt within 10days.

The analysis was conducted to assess sucrose loss in cane delay from cut to crushing.

The orange line on the graph shows the linear decline trend and the red line shows the day from which there is accelerated decline in sucrose.
Sucrose content for cut to crush delay samples Whole stalk green cane Figure 2: Sucrose Whole stalk-Green % e s o r c u S 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 Time delay from cut to crush The sucrose content over 10 days ranged between 10.0 – 17.8%.

There was a slight decrease in sucrose for cut to crush delay at 12, 24 and 72 hours.

After 48 hours, there was an accelerated decline in sucrose from 16.7% to 10.1% on day 3 on day 10.
The cut to crush delay of the Green Whole stalk Sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>12.0%) is within 48 hours.

After 48 hours, there is rapid decline in sucrose content.

The low sucrose values for cut to crush delay of 12, 24, 72 and 96 hours could be due to sampling error.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 31 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI Whole stalk burnt cane Figure 3: Sucrose Whole stalk-Burnt 2019 ANNUAL REPORT % e s o r c u S 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 Time delay from cut to crush The sucrose content over 10 days ranged between 12.0% – 16.4%.

There was a slight decrease in sucrose for cut to crush delay from 0 to 16hours.

After 72 hours, there was an accelerated decline in sucrose from 14.0% to 12.0% on day 6.
The cut to crush delay of the Burnt Whole stalk Sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>14.0%) is within 72 hours.

After 72 hours, there is rapid decline in sucrose content.

The high sucrose values for cut to crush delay of 120, 168 and 192 hours could be due to sampling error.

6-inch billet green cane Figure 4: Sucrose 6-inch billet-Green % e s o r c u S 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 Time delay from cut to crush The sucrose content over 10 days ranged between 9.3% – 16.5%.
There was a slight decrease in sucrose for cut to crush delay on the 24th hour.

After the 120th hour, there was an accelerated decline in sucrose from 15.3% - 9.3%.

The cut to crush delay of the green 6-inch billet sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>15.3%) is within 120 hours.

After the 120th hour T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 32 2019 ANNUAL REPORT there is a rapid decline in sucrose content.
The high sucrose values for cut to crush delay of 16, 20, 30, and 48th hour could be due to sampling error.

6-inch billet treatment - Burnt Figure 5: Sucrose 6-inch billet-Burnt % e s o r c u S 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Time delay from cut to crush The sucrose content within 5 days ranged between 12.6% - 16.3 %.

There was a slight decrease in sucrose for cut to crush delay on the 4, 12-20, and 72 hours.

After 96 hours, there was an accelerated decline in sucrose from 15.4% – 8.0% on day 10.
The cut to crush delay of the Burnt 6-inch billet sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>15.4%) is within 96 hours.

After 96 hours, there is rapid decline in sucrose content.

The high sucrose values for cut to crush delay of 8, 24, 96, 120 and 148 hours could be due to sampling error.
8-inch billet treatment - Green Figure 6: Sucrose 8-inch billet - Green % e s o r c u S 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 33 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI Time delay from cut to crush 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The sucrose content within 7 days ranged between 12.2% - 15.8%.

There was a slight decrease in sucrose for cut to crush delay on the 8,20 – 30 hours.

After 96 hours, there was an accelerated decline in sucrose from 15.4% - 12.2% on day 10.
The cut to crush delay of the Green 8-inch billet sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>15.4%) is within 96 hours.

After 96 hours, there is rapid decline in sucrose content.

The low sucrose values for cut to crush delay of 20 and 30th hour could be due to sampling error.

8-inch billet treatment - Burnt Figure 7: Sucrose 8-inch billet - Burnt % e s o r c u S 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 Time delay from cut to crush The sucrose content within 7 days ranged between 11.6% – 17.7 %.
There was a slight decrease in sucrose for cut to crush delay on the 20th hour.

After 72 hours, there was an accelerated decline in sucrose from 15.3% – 8.2% on day 10.

The cut to crush delay of the Burnt 8-inch billet sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>15.3%) is within 72 hours.

After 72 hours, there is rapid decline in sucrose content.

The high sucrose values for cut to crush delay of 120 and 144 hour could be due to sampling error.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 34 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 10-inch billet treatment – Green Figure 8: Sucrose 10-inch Billet-Green % e s o r c u S 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Time delay from cut to crush The sucrose content within 4 days ranged between 11.3% – 16.8 %.

There was a slight decrease in sucrose for cut to crush delay on the 24th hour.

The cut to crush delay of the Green 10-inch billet sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>11.3%) is within 72 hours.
After 72 hours, there is rapid decline in sucrose content from 11.5% – 7.5% on day 10.

The high sucrose values for cut to crush delay of the 96th hour could be due to sampling error.

10-inch billet treatment – Burnt Figure 9: Sucrose 10-inch Billet-Burnt % e s o r c u S 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Time delay from cut to crush The sucrose content over 5 days ranged between 15.0% – 17.7%.

After 120 hours, there was an accelerated decline in sucrose from 12.7% on day 5 to 8.7% on day 10.
The cut to crush delay of the Burnt 10-inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>15.5%) is within 72 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 35 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT hours.

After 72 hours, there is decline in sucrose content.

The low sucrose values for cut to crush delay of 4 and 8 hours could be due to sampling error.
12-inch billet treatment – Green Figure 10: Sucrose 12-inch Billet-Green % e s o r c u S 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Time delay from cut to crush The sucrose content over 3 days ranged between 15.6% – 11.7 %.

There was a slight decrease in sucrose for cut to crush delay on the 12 hours.

After 96 hours, there was an accelerated decline in sucrose from 14.7% on day 4 to 8.3% on day 10.

The cut to crush delay of the Green 12-inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>11.7%) is within 96 hours.
The low sucrose values for cut to crush delay of 4 and 12 hours could be due to sampling error.

12-inch billet treatment – Burnt Figure 11: Sucrose 12-inch Billet-Burnt % e s o r c u S 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Time delay from cut to crush The sucrose content over 4 days ranged between 17.2% – 14.2 %.

There was a slight increase in sucrose for cut to crush delay from 30 – 96 hours and this could be due to sampling error.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 36 2019 ANNUAL REPORT After 96 hours, there was an accelerated decline in sucrose from 13.1% on day 4 to 7.9% on day 10.

The cut to crush delay of the Burnt 12-inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high sucrose (>14.2%) is within 96 hours.

The low sucrose values for cut to crush delay of 0 and 8 hours could be due to sampling error.
POCS Whole stalk treatment - Green Figure 12: POCS Whole stalk-Green % e s o r c u S 14 12 10 8 6 Time delay from cut to crush The POCS content over 10 days ranged between 7.3% – 14.1%.

There was slight decrease in POCS for cut to crush delay from 4 – 16 hours.

After 48 hours, there was an accelerated decline in POCS from 11.6% to 7.3% on day 2.

The cut to crush delay of the Green Whole stalk Sugarcane to obtain high POCS (>10.8%) is within 48 hours.
After 48 hours, there is rapid decline in POCS content.

Whole stalk treatment – Burnt Figure 13: POCS wholestalk-Burnt % e s o r c u S 16 14 12 10 8 6 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R Time delay from cut to crush The POCS content over 10 days ranged between 8.7% – 14.6 %.

There was slight decrease in POCS for cut to crush delay from 12 - 24 hours.

After 120 hours, there was an accelerated 37 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT decline in POCS from 10.3% to 8.7% on day 5.
The cut to crush delay of the Burnt Whole stalk Sugarcane to obtain high POCS (12.9%) is within 30 hours.

After 30 hours, there is rapid decline in POCS content.

The high POCS values for cut to crush delay of 120, 192 and 240 hours could be due to sampling error.

6-inch billet treatment – Green Figure 14: POCS 6-inch billet - Green % e s o r c u S 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 Time delay from cut to crush The POCS content over 8 days ranged between 8.1% – 12.9%.
There was slight decrease in POCS for cut to crush delay from 16 - 20 hours and 30 – 96 hours.

After 168 hours, there was an accelerated decline in POCS from 8.12 % on day 7.

The cut to crush delay of the Green 6- inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high POCS (11.8%) is within 48 hours.

After 48 hours, there is rapid decline in POCS content.

The high POCS values for cut to crush delay of 120, 144 and 168 hours could be due to sampling error.
6-inch billet treatment - Burnt Figure 15: POCS 6-inch billet - Burnt % e s o r c u S 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 Time delay from cut to crush T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 38 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The POCS content over 8 days ranged between 4.4% – 14.5 %.

There was slight decrease in POCS for cut to crush delay from 4, 12 - 20 hours.

After 48 hours, there was an accelerated decline in POCS from 11.1 % on day 7.
The cut to crush delay of the Burnt 6-inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high POCS (>11.1%) is within 48 hours.

After 48 hours, there is rapid decline in POCS content.

The low POCS values for cut to crush delay of 4, 12 - 20 hours could be due to sampling error.

8-inch billet treatment – Green Figure 16: POCS 8-inch billet - Green % e s o r c u S 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 Time delay from cut to crush The POCS content over 9 days ranged between 8.9% – 12.1%.
After 96 hours, there was an accelerated decline in POCS from 12.8 % on day 7.

The cut to crush delay of the Green 8- inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high POCS (>12.1%) is within 48 hours.

After 48 hours, there is rapid decline in POCS content.

The high POCS values for cut to crush delay of 72 and 120 hours could be due to sampling error.
8-inch billeted treatment – Burnt Figure 17: POCS 8-inch billet - Burnt % e s o r c u S 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 39 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI Time delay from cut to crush 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The POCS content over 8 days ranged between 4.5% – 14.5%.

After 48 hours, there was an accelerated decline in POCS from 11.9% on day 2.

The cut to crush delay of the Burnt 8-inch billet sugarcane to obtain high POCS (>11.9%) is within 48 hours.
After 48 hours, there is rapid decline in POCS content.

The high POCS values for cut to crush delay of 30 hours could be due to sampling error.

10-inch billet treatment – Green Figure 18: POCS 10-inch billet - Green % e s o r c u S 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 Time delay from cut to crush The POCS content over 8 days ranged between 5.4% – 13.4%.

After 72 hours, there was an accelerated decline in POCS from 10.6% on day 5.
The cut to crush delay of the Green 10- inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high POCS (>10.6%) is within 72 hours.

After 72 hours, there is rapid decline in POCS content.

The high POCS values for cut to crush delay of 24, 72-96 hours could be due to sampling error.
10-inch billet treatment - Burnt Figuer 19: POCS 10-inch billet - Burnt % e s o r c u S 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 Time delay from cut to crush T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 40 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The POCS content over 7 days ranged between 5.0% – 14.6%.

After 48 hours, there was an accelerated decline in POCS from 13.7% – 5.08% on day 4 to day 10.

The cut to crush delay of the Burnt 10-inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high POCS (>13.7%) is within 48 hours.
After 48 hours, there is rapid decline in POCS content.

The high POCS values for cut to crush delay of 72 hours could be due to sampling error.

12-inch billet treatment – Green Figure 20: POCS 12-inch billet-Green % e s o r c u S 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 Time delay from cut to crush The POCS content over 9 days ranged between 7.6% – 13.0%.

After 72 hours, there was an accelerated decline in POCS from 12.5% – 7.6% on day 4 to day 10.
The cut to crush delay of the Green 10-inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high POCS (>12.5%) is within 72 hours.

After 72 hours, there is rapid decline in POCS content.

The high POCS values for cut to crush delay of 96 and 144 hours could be due to sampling error.
12-inch billet treatment – Burnt Figure 21: POCS 12-inch billet-Burnt % e s o r c u S 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 0hr 4hr 8hr 12hr 16hr 20hr 24hr 30hr 48hr 72hr 96hr 120hr 144hr 168hr 192hr 216hr 240hr Time delay from cut to crush 41 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The POCS content over 8 days ranged between 13.3% - 6.6%.

After 48 hours, there was an accelerated decline in POCS from 12.5% – 6.6% on day 2 to day 10.
The cut to crush delay of the Burnt 10-inch billet Sugarcane to obtain high POCS (>12.5%) is within 48 hours.

The high POCS values for cut to crush delay of 72 and 96 hours could be due to sampling error.

POCS Table 2: Pocs reading for green and burnt cane over the crushing period Treatment → Crushing Period (hrs.)
↓ 0hr 4hr 8hr 12hr 16hr 20hr 24hr 30hr 48hr 72hr 96hr 120hr 144hr 168hr 192hr 216hr 240hr Green Billet sizes Whole stalk 12” 11.97 10.75 11.04 12.69 12.10 10” 6” 8” Burnt Whole stalk 12” 12.55 13.37 14.44 14.60 11.32 10” 6” 8” Conclusion The experiment was based on the effect of cane delay on sugar losses and to find out how treatments deteriorates on day or on hour basis.
The experimental data of each treatment showed that each treatment has an effect on the delay of cane sugar losses differently.

It has been observed from the data above that irrespective of the billet sizes of green and burnt cane samples, rapid decline of POCS and sucrose occurs after 2 days.

According to the results, the suitable period for harvesting and crushing is within 2 days.

After 2 days there is a rapid decline in POCS and sucrose percent of the green cane.
In regards to the burnt cane, the suitable period for burnt cane to be harvested and crushed is within 1 day.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 42 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Low POCS in Lautoka Mill Investigation on the causes of low POCS at Lautoka mill (2019 crushing).

Parameters investigated – Maturity of cane, cane samples from Mill analysis, high extraneous matter and effect of weather.
Maturity of cane (Low POCS in field) Determine cane maturity (field brixing) of standing cane - this will help us determine whether the raw material (cane) is ready for harvesting.

The same fields cane was to be sampled from the factory.
Table 3: Cane Analysis from farmers field at Drasa (composite sample) POCS Farm Number 12.4 14134 11.2 115 10.6 47 10.3 115 Purity 88.8 85.7 84.4 84.8 Brix 15.4 14.7 14.3 13.7 Cane Samples from Mill Analysis Table 4: Cane Analysis from farmers field at Drasa (composite sample) POCS Truck Number 13.4 CM-928 10.0 BF-428 11.3 AZ 227 Purity 90.9 85.0 86.5 Brix 16.1 13.4 14.7 Fiber 9.4 8.6 7.9 8.0 Fiber 9.5 10.3 9.1 The above results show that fiber content in cane was low both from field samples and when the same cane was crushed in the Mill.
Low fiber content will influence sugar content and is also an indication of immature cane.

High Extraneous matter High extraneous matter is due to Harvester size.

Most of the harvesters are CASE 4000.

Following was noticed when CASE 4000 is in operation – loss of cane in the field that is this harvester is not able to collect all the cane when cutting and the elevator of this harvester is shorter than CASE 7000 that is used by the Miller.

Due to this more trash remains in the harvested cane.
CASE 4000 has a single exhaust fan compared to CASE 7000.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 43 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Effect of weather The effect of weather was also studied to ascertain its effect on maturity of cane.
Table 5: Maximum and minimum temperature with rainfall 2019 maturity season Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Max Min Diff Rain Max Min Diff Rain Max Min Diff Rain Avg.
30.4 21.1 9.3 41.2 30.5 19.4 11.2 23.9 30.8 21.1 7.9 9.4 9.7 72.6 82.2 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Analyzing the weather data, Rarawai had favourable conditions (lower minimum temperatures during maturing phase) compared to other mills but due to the dominance of Mana a mid to late maturing variety sugar content was lower at Rarawai than Labasa.

At Labasa, the dominant variety is Naidiri which is an early maturing variety that has the ability to retain sugar levels throughout the season.
The presence of Naidiri at Labasa contributes to better sugar content in cane.

From the analysis of weather data, the minimum temperatures have not played a significant role in maturity of cane.

Other factors that contribute to low sugar content are time of fertilization.

The correct time for fertilizer application is when ratoon crops are 2-4 weeks old.

If there is late, application of fertilizer, cane will continue to grow even in the crushing season and this affects maturity.
Effect of Rainfall The table below shows the rainfall received in the Lautoka Mill sectors.

The peak rainy season is from January to March and in April rain starts to ease off but in 2019 good rainfall was received in April and rain continued to fall during June and July.

The rainfall during April, June and July favoured cane growth and adversely affected maturing.

This could also be a contributing factor to low sugar content at Lautoka mill.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 44 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Table 7: 2019 Lautoka Mill rainfall (mm) Month Jan Feb March April May June July a s a r D 409 202 222 252 0 73 13 a k o t u a L 220 220 187 329 6 12 61 i n e w a S 360 176 219 320 0 66 96 a v o t a N 428 127 284 401 0 142 188 l a g e a g e L 390 77 309 411 6 61 73 h a y n u g e M i 336 57 235 342 3 65 65 o k a Y 292 62 114 216 1 111 33 i a b o c a w a N 304 74 273 412 3 60 50 i a w a m o L 218 119 119 207 1 70 53 a r a s o O l 234 143 136 275 39 85 233 u v u C 401 64 73 181 31 26 116 g v A 343 116 208 324 8 73 89 l o o a M l 525 74 330 548 1 109 86 Pacific Community Resilience Case Study Two researchers from the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), University of Technology Sydney (UTS) are undertaking a study to capture insights about changes in community resilience to climate change and disasters in the Pacific, focusing on 4 Pacific Island Countries: Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Kiribati.
This research will provide significant learning on community resilience to climate change and disaster risks in the Pacific.

In Fiji, the research focused on the Climate and Ocean Support Program for the Pacific (COSPPac).

Researchers aimed to understand the contributions this program was making to community resilience, focusing on the sugarcane farming industry in selected communities in western Viti Levu.

This research project was funded by DFAT, through the Australia Pacific Climate Partnership.
As part of this research, ISF researchers undertook consultations including interviews, focus group discussions and workshops with community members in western Viti Levu.

Outputs One of the objectives of this project is to contribute to learning on community resilience to climate change and disaster risks in the Pacific.

This will be done through developing a range of outputs that are relevant to various audiences, including communities involved in the research.
Interviews Upstream Interview The case study involved interviews with the sugar industry stakeholders.

The stakeholders were asked about their understanding and the engagement with the COSPPac program.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 45 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Discussion was also based on perceptions of climate change and perceived changes in resilience over recent years.
Stakeholders interviewed included representatives from the Sugar Industry along with Ministry of Agriculture and Fiji Meteorological Services.

Community Interview Sugarcane farmers were also interviewed about their understanding and the engagement with the COSPPac program.

Discussion was also based on perceptions of climate change and perceived changes in resilience over recent years.

Community members interviewed included sugarcane farmers, persons with disabilities and elderly people on life history.
Figure 22: Discussion with a lady farmer (left) and a person with disability (right) Focus group discussion A group discussion with men and women was carried out.

Each separate gender had their views on climate change and the impact it had on their lives and the lives of their family.
Figure 23 & 24: LEFT - Women attending group discussion, RIGHT - Workshop attended by community members T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 46 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Workshop A presentation was made to the community on the final day of the case study.
The major findings were discussed and suggestions for improvement was noted as follows: Major Findings ✓ Most villagers were unaware of the COSPPac program ✓ Most villagers get their weather forecast by listening to the radio and rarely from the FMS products that FMS releases.

✓ Perception of climate change –past natural disasters had a devastating effect on many communities, but the recovery period also brought opportunities for developing tighter social connections and infrastructural development.
✓ Environmental challengers have not made people “helpless” but given them an optimistic outlook on life.

Suggestions for improvements ✓ The ISF, UTS team to discuss in advance the date(s) of interview and discussion with the farmers and the community residents.

Analytical Laboratory Introduction The analytical laboratory acts as a link between the growers and the industry by providing analytical services for advisory and research programs.
This service is essential due to the rising cost of fertilizers and to maintain optimum production in the future.

Analytical services provided at SRIF analytical laboratory includes soil, foliar and cane analysis.

Soil and leaf samples are received from all sugar cane districts namely Penang, Rarawai, Lautoka and Labasa for fertilizer recommendation and from SRIF research trials.

At the analytical laboratory at SRIF; all analytical procedures are fully documented.
The in-house validated analytical methods will deliver consistent and reliable lab reports on the samples.

Soil and leaf testing for recommended fertilizer – all cane farmers planning to plant must have their soils analyzed to get the correct recommendation for optimum production.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 47 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Beneficiaries Farmers - fertilizer advisory service (FAS) which includes fertilizer recommendation and soil status for new farm assessment is provided to the sugarcane farmers and those that want to venture into sugarcane farming.

The laboratory gives fertilizer recommendations to growers in the cane area on the basis of soil and leaf sample analysis from their fields.
Soil Analysis A total of one thousand five hundred and seventeen (1517) soil samples were received for analysis comprising of one thousand and thirty-four (1034) advisory soil samples and four hundred and eighty-three (483) research soil samples.

Reports are released by email as soon as they become available from the laboratory to the FSC extension staffs.

The laboratory staff is equipped to process samples quickly and efficiently.
The analysis is completed within two- six weeks from the date samples are received.

Table 8: Summary of soil samples for 2018 Mill Lautoka Rarawai Penang Labasa Total Advisory Research 295 84 34 70 483 251 401 60 322 1034 Total 546 485 94 392 1517 Sugar Industry Tribunal Request The Sugar Industry Tribunal requested for a re-assessment of the land in Agriculture lease No.

21498 in Labasa for its suitability for cane cultivation.
The soil samples were taken from this field and forwarded to the Institute for chemical analysis to determine whether it is suitable for cane cultivation.

The nutrient rating of the field is as below; pH - all the composite samples indicates that the field is acidic in nature.

Phosphorus - is generally present in very low levels.

Exchangeable Bases – Cations.


Based on ammonium acetate method, Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) levels are as follows; • Calcium & Magnesium– very high • Potassium & Sodium – high • Electrical Conductivity - EC rating of 0.85 mS/cm indicates that the top soil (0-20cm) is highly saline and may have serious effect on growth of sugarcane.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 48 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Recommendation The institute advised that major drainage work needs to be carried out on this land before cane can be planted and to plant a cover crop after incorporating lime, the cover crop should be ploughed into the soil to improve the organic matter content.

Leaf Analysis The analytical laboratory had received 78 plant samples for analysis.
52 samples have been analyzed and fertilizer recommendations sent for the next year ratoon crop.

Labasa laboratory setup and training A laboratory similar to the one at Drasa, Lautoka is being setup in Labasa and should be operational in 2020.

All soil and water samples from Vanua Levu will be analyzed at this laboratory, and fertilizer recommendations sent to the FSC extension team.
Leaf samples will be sent to Drasa laboratory for analysis and fertilizer recommendations as there is no setup to carry out plant digestion at Labasa.

The soil samples will be analyzed by the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS500).

This instrument has the ability to analyze macronutrients (calcium, magnesium and potassium).

Labasa substation continues to operate small mill using the classic method i.e.
the disintegrator for shredding and grinding the cane samples, juice extractor for extracting the juice from the grinded bagasse, Polarimeter and refractometer for the sugar analysis.

Lead Acetate is still in use to clarify the juice.

A total of 120 cane samples were analyzed at Labasa laboratory.
Studies on Micronutrient Status of Soils in the Sugar belt Introduction A recent survey carried out on micronutrient by SRIF in 2014 and 2015 indicated that sugarcane soils are deficient in Zinc, along with other micronutrients such as iron and copper, while adequate amounts of other nutrients were found.

This led to a planned detailed study of the micronutrient status in the sugarcane soils.
Micronutrients are those elements which are needed in very small (micro) quantities that are essential for plant growth.

The essential micronutrients include boron (B), copper (Cu), iron T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 49 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn).

In soils the main source of micronutrients is the parent material from which the soil was formed.
Iron is most abundant as it forms major constituent of ferromagnesian minerals.

Zinc, copper, and molybdenum originate from sulfides of igneous rocks.

Zinc, copper and manganese also occur in ferromagnesian minerals.

Boron is found largely as the borosilicate mineral, tourmaline.

According to Nixon (2005), little information is available on the micronutrient requirements of sugarcane.
Studies conducted on sugarcane in South Africa and Malawi revealed iron, zinc, manganese, boron and copper deficiencies (Nixon, 2005).

Years of mono-cropping, trash burning and improper cultivation practices contributes to declining nutrient content in soil.

Objectives The project aims to measure micronutrients in sugarcane growing soils and address deficiencies.

Thus, the project will be implemented in two phases.

Soil samples will be collected from each sector for determination of nutrient content.
Field trials will then be laid to determine rates of micronutrient fertilizer required for good growth of sugarcane plants.

Methodology The project started with taking soil samples at depths of 0 – 20 cm and 20 – 40 cm from growers’ field.

Soil samples were taken from land which were under preparation for next planting season.

Soil samples were dried, grinded and analyzed for potassium, calcium, phosphorous, nitrogen, organic matter, pH, copper, zinc, manganese and iron.
Results were analyzed to map areas with micronutrient deficiencies.

Results 272 soil samples were collected from different sectors and the analysis is in progress.

The results of the soil samples will be presented in 2020.

Based on the results, trials will be conducted to address the micronutrient deficiencies.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 50 2019 ANNUAL REPORT CROP PROTECTION Nematodes Screening Sugarcane Varieties for tolerance to Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Nematodes are the most abundant multicellular individuals on earth, which feeds on a wide range of agricultural products including sugarcane.

This organism is not visible to the naked eyes except under the microscope in laboratories.
In the field agriculturist will not be able to identify the nematodes causing damage to crops.

It can only be identified by carrying out soil samples and undertaking nematodes population count.

The first nematodes study was carried out in Fiji by Cobb on banana.
In 1977, Kirby conducted a study on nematodes associated with sugarcane in Fiji and in 1976; experiments were conducted on the effects of nematicides and rainfall on the population densities of soil- borne nematodes in Fiji by Ram Narain and Dr. Krishnamurthi.

No studies have been carried out on nematodes associated with sugarcane in Fiji.

The importance of implementing the resistance and biological suppression of nematodes in Fiji sugarcane is to improve on production of sugar.
The aim of this project is to test and identify sugarcane varieties that are resistant to plant parasitic nematodes.

The pot trial was conducted on 19th September 2019 in a poly-house at Drasa, Lautoka.

This study was carried out with the aim of screening selected sugarcane commercial varieties for their response to nematodes and tolerances.

The experiment consists of eight varieties of sugarcane planted in 5L pots with treated and untreated soil.
The trials were conducted in pots arranged in a randomized complete block design with treated and untreated soil with four replications.

The untreated soil was collected from farmer’s field which showed high density of plant parasitic nematodes.

The untreated soil was sterilized at 120⸰c for 20 minutes to get treated soil.

Data on growth was recorded at 48 days after planting.

The growth measurement was subjected to general ANOVA using statistic 9.
When AVOVA indicated significant differences among treatments, means were separated using the Fisher’ protected LSD test at 5% probability level.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 51 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 1: Average Growth Height of Cane Treated Untreated t n e m e r u s a e M h t w o r G 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Vomo Kaba Ragnar Beqa Kiuva Mali Vatu Varieties Figure 1 is showing that growth in Vomo and Mali varieties are affected by plant parasitic nematodes in untreated soil at 48 days after planting where as Kaba and Vatu are able to withstand the consequence of nematodes in the untreated soil.
Table 1: Analysis of variances Source Replication Variety DF 3 6 SS MS F 5% 57.500 19.167 860.214 143.369 8.85 0.0001 Error Replication*Variety 18 291.50 16.194 Treatment Variety*Treatment Error Replication*Variety*Treatment Total 16.071 16.071 59.929 9.988 0.64 0.40 0.4325 0.8719 527.000 25.095 1 6 21 55 CV= Replication*Variety = 18.44 CV=Replication*Variety*Treatment = 22.96 The result of this study show that the average growth of cane was high in treated soil (22.4cm) than in untreated soil (21.3cm).
The growth measurement at 48days was not significantly different (P<0.05) among the treatment as shown in ANOVA table 1 above.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 52 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 2: Nematode screening (plot trial) at Lautoka Fiji Leaf Gall Disease Screening clones from stage 3 LF2016 series for FLG resistance Fiji leaf gall (FLG, Fiji disease) was first described in Fiji and is widespread in the Fiji Islands.
FLG threatened the existence of the Fiji Sugar industry in the late 1800s and there have been periodic outbreaks.

The primary method of managing FLG is varietal resistance.

Resistant varieties have been successfully used in Australia and Fiji to manage outbreaks of FLG.

Mana the dominant variety in the Fiji Sugar Industry is intermediate to susceptible to FLG.

FLG is spread by a vector (disease carrying agent), called plant hopper (Perkinsiella vitiensis).
The aim of this routine project is to conduct screening of hybrid clones from stage 3 (LF 2015) series for Fiji leaf gall resistance.

Hopper survey of cane field and potting of infected susceptible variety Fiji 10 is done around February/ April each year to find out if sufficient hopper is available for collection.

The selected field should not have fully grown cane.

The collection begins as soon as the hoppers are discernible.
They are guided into the test tubes in the proportion of one male to every ten females and then transferred to the hopper cages.

Each cage has approximately 1000 hoppers.

These are then put over infected Fiji 10 plants, which have been planted in 5-pint planters.

The caged plants are placed on the cement pad and care is taken to ensure that no ants or other insects can get to the caged plants, as ants devour the eggs of hoppers.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 53 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The tested varieties 12 single-eye setts are planted.

Of these only 6 are selected which have an even growth.

At the 2-leaf stage the 6 replications of each variety are placed in the insectary and the newly bred hoppers are released at the rate of 20 per plant.

They are allowed to feed on the test varieties for 14 days.
During this period, as they puncture the stalk and leaves, the virus is passed on to the plants through the saliva.

On the 14th day the hoppers are killed by spraying with a household insecticide.

During the 14-day period watering of the trial is avoided as it may lead to the death of the hoppers.

On completion of the 14-day period of infection the varieties are shifted from the insectary on to the ground and fertilized.
A rapid growth of the plants is necessary as it helps in clear distinction of the disease symptoms.

A total of 84 clones were received from stages 3 - LF 2015 series for screening against Fiji Disease Virus.

Screening the plants begins 30 days after the day of inoculation, and continued every alternate day till the plants are 100 days old.

The study has showed that 65.5% clones were resistant, 11.9% clones were moderate and 22.6% clones were susceptible.
Figure 3: Chopping and potting of F.10 for screening LF2015 series T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 54 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 4: Collection of plant hoppers (left) using test tube (middle) from commercial farms and filling up cages (right) for breeding on host plant.

Figures 5: Selection of test clones and randomly arranged inside the insectary for release of vectors.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R Figure 6: Successfully bred nymphs and release on test clones for inoculation.

55 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Cane Weevil Borer Cane weevil borer, Rhabdoscelus obscurus is an introduced pest of sugarcane in Fiji.

CWB is prevalent in all the sectors of the cane belt and is a major concern to the industry.

Infestation by CWB results in reduction percentage of purity of cane (pocs).
The internal chewing and tunneling of the borer larvae within the stalk internodes directly decrease the amount of juice that can be extracted and the percentage of sucrose that is present in the juice.

This leads to a corresponding decrease of juice purity and an increase in total organic non-sugars such as dextran.

Damaged stalks are lighter and do not keep as well as undamaged cane after they are cut for milling.
The objective of this project was to contain and minimize the spread of Cane Weevil Borer in the sugarcane growing areas.

Preparation and placement of split-cane traps 160 traps were laid on a farm in Legalega sector after receiving a complaint from the FSC field team on spindle begin dried.

Upon investigation it was found that the crop was damage by CWB larva and rat.

The trap was laid on this farm (18574).

A total of 17, 247 adults were trapped out of which 7526 were male and 9721 were female.
Damage Assessment Fields were randomly selected to analyse the damage caused by CWB in cane belt area of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

10 farms per sector was selected during the harvesting period.

100 stalks per farm was analyzed.

The parameters were recorded such as total internodes, damage internodes, length of stalk, length of infected stalks, total weight and infected weight.

The collected data was further analyzed to obtain % infestation, % internode, % length damage and % weight affected.
143 farms were analysed for CWB damage in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

123 farms were from Viti Levu and 20 farms were from Vanua Levu (table 2).

Table 2: Showing the incident of borer level in each sector.

Sector Legalega Malolo Meigunyah Olosara Drasa Lautoka Natova Lovu Lomawai Varoko No.
of Sample % Infestation % Internode Damaged % Length Infested % Weight affected T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 56 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Roguing The roguing team covered an area of 6,424 ha during their crop inspection.
Of this total 1,707 ha plant crops and 4,719 ha were ratoon cane.
Table 3: Rouging areas inspected January-November 2019 (ha) Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang P 31 33 68 151 93 44 41 51 43 24 22 0 R 202 271 220 66 165 234 283 200 189 136 244 0 P 0 13 0 32 62 80 63 31 32 2 1 0 R 15 140 22 48 88 102 626 37 36 44 54 0 P 78 56 80 76 91 96 60 55 53 15 27 0 R 51 73 42 57 60 27 81 525 59 124 123 0 P 2 1 1 10 24 39 21 0 2 0 0 0 Total 601 2210 316 1212 687 1222 100 *P – Plant crop and R – Ratoon crop R 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 17 53 0 74 The trend on which Fiji Leaf Gall Disease is increasing in the sugarcane farms is an indication that the disease can flare up at any time given the availability of the pathogen (Perkinsiella vitiensis), weather conditions and planting of only one major variety – Mana.
Also, the planting of Saccharum edule –Duruka, an alternate host of Fiji Leaf Gall Disease planted along and near cane fields contributes to the increasing number of the disease found in some Districts.

Table 4: Summarized Rouging Report from January-November 2019 Mill District Lautoka Nadi Labasa Sigatoka Ba/Tavua Penang Total No.

of Farms Inspected No.

of farms infested % farm infested Area Rouged (Ha) Plant Ratoon No.
of FLGD stools Rouged T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 57 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT This can be credited to disease free area or good field management practices used by farmers such as having a good, healthy and clean planting material.

Sigatoka have the most stools infected in 2019.


Out of the total 1959 farms inspected 3112 stools were rouged.

During the inspection of major diseases in commercial cane field, the DCU team also identifies the minor sugarcane diseases, which has no economic effect on cane yield.

Figure 7: Minor diseases of sugarcane – Brown Rust, Ring spot and Red Leaf Spot.

Seed Cane Certification Seed cane is defined as any sugarcane plant material which is intended for use in the propagation of sugarcane.
Planting good quality seed cane is crucial for profitable sugarcane production.

The potential yield of a crop will not be attained if seed cane of poor quality is planted.

In spite of this, seed cane production is an aspect of sugarcane management that is often neglected due to the limitation of resources.

This year the institute received complaints on unapproved varieties being planted, poor germination due to sett rot (fusarium and pineapple rot) and termite infestation.
The reason being, the growers have used uncertified planting material.

Total of 72 farms were identified planted with unapproved variety mixed with other variety.

32.28 ha of unapproved varieties was planted at Nasorowaqa estate.

All plant cane in all the sectors have been inspected by SRIF Disease Control (DCU) that may be used for seed material.

Of the 1, 705 ha plant cane inspected, only 15.01% qualified to be used as seed material.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 58 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Sugarcane Smut Introduction Sugarcane smut is a major fungal disease caused by Sporisorium scitamineum (Ustilago scitamineum).

It was one of the first sugarcane diseases to be recognized, as the conspicuous symptoms made diagnosis easy.
McMartin (1945), quoting from an 1882 report by the committee of the Victoria Planters’ Association, states that the disease was first discovered in Natal around 1877, during the early days of sugarcane culture.

Specimens of the disease, which were the first to appear in Europe, were forwarded to Kew, where the fungus was identified as Ustilago sacchari Rabenh., an organism which had previously been found in India on Saccharum spontaneum L. (King, 1956).

The name was later changed to U. scitaminea Syd.


In these early years, smut was reported to be making after-effects in the variety known as ‘china cane’, which was destroyed by it (Antoine, 1961).

Control measures aimed at the destruction of infected stools were successful and it was not until more than 60 years later that the disease was again observed.

McMartin (1945, 1949) records its spread in susceptible varieties in 1945 and these were immediately withdrawn from cultivation (Antoine, 1961).
Smut causes a whip-like structure, dusty black in color and in susceptible varieties may lead to a grassy growth habit.

The conspicuous symptom is the sorus (whip), which is a modified inflorescence (Smut Fungi of Australia, 2013).

Smut varietal resistance is the most effective management option, along with the use of disease free seedcane.

On smaller scale operations hot water treatment of seedcane and rogueing of infected plants can also assist in management of the disease.
The main mode of spore dispersal is the wind but the disease also spreads through the use of infected cuttings and spores spread via harvesters.

Sugarcane smut is a devastating disease in sugarcane growing areas globally (Waktola, 2014).

Contextual Description Smut, one of the most easily recognized diseases, has a black whip of varying thickness.
The whip is initially covered by a thin membrane, giving it a slivery-grey appearance; when these ruptures, the black, powdery spores become more highly visible.

The whip is unbranched and is made up of a hard core of parenchyma and fibro-vascular elements surrounded by millions of chlamydospores that resembles soot – hence the name ‘smut’.

The spores are very small (6-8 µm) and feel smooth when rubbed between one’s fingers.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 59 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Symptoms The earliest symptoms in an infected stool include long, slender grass-like shoots with long internodes that grow faster than healthy cane.

Leaves may be short and stiff and carried at a more acute angle.

Life Cycle When an infected sett is planted, some or all of the subsequent shoots may develop whips.
Spores are released from the whip and then dispersed via the wind, some travelling long distances (many kilometers) landing on the soil may infect young shoots emerging through the soil, either in the plant or ratoon crop.

These spores do not usually infect mature shoots.

though many fall close to the infected stool.

Spores landing on the axial buds of adjoining healthy stalks may infect these buds, leading to disease in the cane planted from this material.
Alternatively, spores landing on the soil may infect young shoots emerging through the soil, either in the plant or ratoon crop.

These spores do not usually infect mature shoots.

The teliospores may survive in the soil for long periods, up to 12 months – depending on environmental conditions.

Dry conditions favour spore longevity while wet soil leads to fairly rapid loss of spore viability (a matter of weeks).
The primary spread of the disease is through spore dispersal; diseased seed-pieces (setts) also pose a significant risk.

Rapid secondary spread of the disease within a crop occurs via wind-blown spores.

Hot dry conditions favour smut; a higher level of varietal resistance is needed in dry areas while regions with relatively high rainfall may be able to plant varieties of greater susceptibility.

Status In Fiji Smut occurs in all sugarcane cropping countries except for Fiji.
It is important therefore that strict quarantine border controls are applied when people move between countries growing sugarcane and Fiji.

Not much can be done to prevent wind-borne spread over long distances and this is how smut was thought to have spread to many countries around the world.

Strategy – Immediate Action Plan Running of smut spore traps Spore samplers are to be placed in the major port of entries for firsthand detection of smut spores.
SRIF will be working diligently with Biosecurity Authority of Fiji for the analysis of the tapes.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 60 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Spore identification Confirmation of smut spore identity will be needed; two techniques will be used - light microscopy and a molecular test (PCR).
Establishment of Smut Technical Committee (STC) If an incursion were to occur, a team representing appropriate authoritative institutes will be formed; the technical committee will comprise members from: • Sugar research institute of Fiji • Fiji sugar cooperation • Biosecurity authority of Fiji • Ministry of Agriculture • Fiji Ports • Sugar Cane Growers Council • Sugar Cane Growers Fund • Invited Scientist (Plant Pathologist) Role of the STC • Development of an Emergency Response Plan SOP.
This will be a key document to guide actions to be taken at the time of the identification of an incursion • Advise Biosecurity Authority of Fiji on any possible Biosecurity Emergency declaration that needs to be made when an incursion is first identified.

• The STC will liaise with other government agencies as well as international organizations/ parties.

• Decide on the details of the delimiting survey SOP, depending on where the incursion first occurs.
• Decide on the emergency response budget allocation.

Initial preparations A “smut resistant seedcane variety multiplication” project should be initiated.

To prepare and propagate significant quantities of smut-free seedcane of resistant varieties for assessment and distribution, pre-smut incursion.

The most judicious, positive long term approach rests with resistant varieties.
Thus taking into consideration the smut resistance ratings, the most resistant varieties should be multiplied for potential distribution.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 61 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Resistant varieties Detailed below are the smut resistance ratings for current commercial Fijian varieties, as predicted by resistance screening undertaken by Sugar Research Australia.
Table 5: List of commercial varieties and SMUT resistance ratings Variety KIUVA VOMO VATU AIWA BEQA GALOA QAMEA MANA RAGNAR MQ33-371 KABA LF91-1925 YASAWA NAIDIRI LF05-1502 MALI Rating Number *Rating Class 1 1 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 HR HR IR I I I I I I IS S S S S HS HS *HR- highly resistant, IR- intermediately resistant, I- intermediate IS- intermediately susceptible, HS- highly susceptible Figure 8: SMUT infected sugarcane, Photo credit: Harry Dass, Research Officer, Mauritius Sugar Research Institute.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 62 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria Introduction Nitrogen is abundant in nature, it often limits plant productivity because atmospheric nitrogen is only available to a very range of organisms symbiotically associates with higher plants and non-symbiotically.

Nitrogen in legumes originates from nitrogen in the air, as well as nitrate and ammonium in soil solution.
Much of the nitrogen required for plant growth is from fixed nitrogen.

Most fixed nitrogen is thought to come from nitrogen-fixing symbionts, such as Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, or Sinorhizobium, in the nodules of leguminous plants.

However, much nitrogen continues to be taken up by plants even after the flowering stage, at which stage the nitrogen fixation of nodules begins to decrease rapidly.
Nitrogen absorbed by legumes in the later stages are thought to be inorganic nitrogen compounds formed from decomposition of organic matter in the soil.

Bio fertilizer is important in crop farming systems because it is an inexpensive source of nitrogen for higher yields of crops.

This process diminishes the need for expensive chemical fertilizer.
Thus the extensive use of bio fertilizers would provide economic benefits to farmers, improve the socioeconomic condition of people and preserve natural resources.Three Nitrogen fixing trials were planted in Lautoka (31/05), Nadi (23/05) and Labasa (04/06).

Discussion The extraction of N- fixing soil microbes were successfully isolated.

A number of plates were sent to CABI for ID and was identified as Azotobacter and Rhizobium tropici.
Along with these N-fixing bacteria an aquatic bacteria of family Rhodobacteraecae, found in the marine was present, this could be the result of flooding, however, further studies may be done in the future to calculate the impact of such bacteria on sugarcane health.

The identified N-fixing bacteria was mass produced and added to sterile compost,which acted as a carrier.
This was mixed with top soil and filled in pots.Four commercial varieties (Naidiri, Mana, Kiuva, Viwa) and a promising variety (LF11-233) was planted.

Trials on sugarcane against soil microbes was carried out in SRIF nursery.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R Pot trial 5 varieties potted with compost 5 varieties potted with sterilized compost + bacteria (4 reps) 63 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Leaf height Statistical Analysis It can be concluded from the pot trials that there was no significant difference between the inoculated and uninoculated pot trials.

However, Kiuva showed positive results.


The little difference in comparison to the expectations could also be due to the placement of the pots in the greenhouse that was subjected to uncontrolled rainfall.

Field Trial Three field trials were planted in Lautoka, Nadi and Labasa.

A randomized complete block design was adopted.

Irrigation was provided as well normal fertilizer and weedicide application.

Treatments Table 6: List of treatments for the trial Treatment No.
Treatment T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 Dip sett in bacteria Compost with bacteria Millmud Control Millmud with bacteria Drasa Trial Figure 9: Drasa F 11 Trial Planting T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 64 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 10: Trial planting in Labasa Figure 11: Trial Marking and cane dipping in bacteria as a treatment T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 65 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 12: Trial planting in Malolo, Nadi.
Statistical analysis was done for the Drasa, Lautoka, and trial showed some differences, however, it was insignificant.

Further analysis was done through using LSD All- Pairwise comparisons which showed more groups formation at 5 months.

Data collection will take place until harvesting.

Termites Introduction Termites are a social insect of the order Isoptera.

They are pale and soft bodied.

Subterranean termites are considered one of the most economically important pests in the world.
They are also the most destructive and economically important insect pest of wood and other cellulose products.

Termites have specialized castes to perform specific colony functions.

The termite colony has three castes: workers, soldiers, and the reproductive (queens and males).

The life cycle starts when the alate adults have been retained by a caste for a single seasonal migration or dispersal.

The winged forms with long wing-pads are usually present in the colony few months before the flight.
The emergence is related to a series of changes in the activity of the colony.

Soon after reaching maturity, alates (male and female) leave the nest in a swarm and fly up into the air.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 66 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Once the size of colony reaches a certain point, the reproduction process launched.

However, the time which is needed for reaching that level of size to alert the production process varied between the different species.
In addition, before the alate flight, they assemble away from the main colony and then they leave from holes, slited in the ground, mound and or wood.

During late September, swarms of the reproductive caste may be noticed in infested buildings and trees.

These dark-colored, winged termites are the stage most commonly seen, since the other castes do not expose themselves to light.

Winged termites are attracted to light, and when they emerge within buildings, they swarm about doors and windows.
After crawling or fluttering about for a short time, the termites break off their wings and locate a mate.

Mating occurs after the male and female have make the first chamber.

The female (queen) lays the eggs after few days or (3-6) weeks from the establishing of the pair in their first chamber after which the incomplete metamorphosis begins.

A queen lays approximately 1000 eggs per day.


(Biosecurity Authority of Fiji factsheet), workers are responsible for constructing tunnels and chambers as well as feeding and grooming other termite castes.

Soldier termites are useful in combat and protecting the colony, however, are incapable of feeding themselves.

The cane infested with termite shows symptoms of yellow and drying of outer leaves.
Millable canes are tunneled and are filled with soil within the coning epidermis; termites feed on the inner tissues, the rind remains intact and is filled with moist soil.

The damage infestation by Coptotermes gestroi on sugarcane is approximately 60cm from the base of the millable stalk.

Asian subterranean termites, Coptotermes gestroi.

dwell in nests and/or trees and attain moisture source through mud tubes.
The cavity of the colony of the subterranean termites may range from 6m to 7m deep into the ground to protect termites from extreme weather conditions, wildfire and calamities so that termites travel through earthen (mud) tubes to reach food sources.

These insect pest affects the sugarcane crop from the germination stage to the millable canes.

Discussion Termites in sugarcane is currently confined in the Lautoka district.
A survey on the termite infestation was carried out jointly with Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and the Institute in 2014 (OPERATION KADIVUKA).

The number of infested farms recorded in this survey was 45.

T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 67 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The number of farms declined over the years with the use of bait traps from 45 to 16 farms in 2018.
A survey was undertaken beginning from mid- October to ascertain the current status of the spread/ infestation level of termites.

Due to limited resources this survey was not completed in 2019 and would continue in 2020 after which a report will be prepared.

Till date, a total of 114 farms has been surveyed from October till December.

Out of the 114 surveyed 20 farms were found infested, all in the Lautoka, Drasa and Lovu sector.
Figure 13: Percentage of infested and uninfested farms Two farms were sprayed with Attrathor on trial basis and according to visual analysis there has been no incidence of termite attack yet.

Seedcane Inspection Management and consistent monitoring had continued by a collaborative work between Sugar Research Institute of Fiji and the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji.

Plan is underway for seed cane sources to be branched out to cater for clean seed materials.
T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 68 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 14: Seedcane inspection by BAF and SRIF Figure 15: Field training with BAF Staffs and SRIF staffs T N E M P O L E V E D & H C R A E S E R 69 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT CROP PRODUCTION I N O T C U D O R P P O R C SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 70 2019 ANNUAL REPORT SEED CANE PRODUCTION Lautoka Mill Area About 285 tonnes seedcane from the mother and distribution plots planted in 2018 was taken by farmers in near by locality and Nadi district.
Majority of the seedcane was taken by Tunalia Joint Venture project which was faciliated by SRIF.

A total of 15 hectares of sugarcane has been established in Tunalia joint venture farm as distribution plot.

A major setback for seedcane project is restriction of seedcane movement from Lautoka district imposed by Biosecuirty authority of Fiji due to termite infestation in nearby sugarcane farms.

Mother plots will now be establsihed in Nadi and Sigatoka Districts.
Figure 1: Good quality and vigorously growing seed cane in SRIF MO in Drasa.

Labasa Mill Area Seed cane inspection initiative started this year with the aim of improving the quality and quantity of sugarcane in Labasa.
Most of the farms inspected has not been approved for seed cane distribution because of the mixed varieties planted in the field and also planting of SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI I N O T C U D O R P P O R C 71 2019 ANNUAL REPORT unapproved varieties which almost dominating the whole field.

Farmers were encouraged to improve on their seed cane production by planting one common variety in their field.

The breakdown of farms certified is in the table below.
Rarawai Mill Area The seed cane production from hot water treated seed cane was continued in 2019.

The following table summarizes the varieties with approximate tonnes that was available for distribution.

Unfortunately, the uptake had been very low due to following reasons: 1.

Planting outside normal planting/ re-planting window hence seed cane not ready.

2.

Lack of irrigation resources with farmers hence delay in uptake of seed cane.

3.

Poor link between FSC extension and SRIF.

4.


Indiscriminate burning at the Estate.

Table 1: Seed cane plot summary Variety Crop Naidiri 2R Kaba 2R KABA 1R Mana P Mana 1R Qamea 2R LF91-1925 2R Area 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5 Approximate Tons 30 30 60 35 10 30 30 The following table summarizes the seed cane plots established in 2019 for distribution in 2020 season.

Table 2: Variety Mana Qamea Kaba LF91-1925 Viwa Area (Ha) 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 Approx.
Tonnes 30 25 15 25 10 A lot of resources and time is being put in establishing the clean seed cane hence farmer uptake needs to be addressed via more astringent measures.

SRIF had embarked in certifying seed cane and this needs to be a mandatory requirement before planting is approved at sector level.
I N O T C U D O R P P O R C SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 72 2019 ANNUAL REPORT TISSUE CULTURE Summary After a decade of small-scale production in 2017 a new proposal was set forth to continue plant tissue culture but in micropropagation to produce seed cane material.

The idea to produce it as quality seed cane material, hence tissue culture lab was renovated and extended after a short training in micropropagation in 2018 to fully start with the production.
A total of 10,170 plantlets were achieved through the process of micro propagation divided into stages as Initiation, Multiplication, Shooting, Rooting and Acclimatization.

The year also marked as a recognition of tissue culture through an official opening and first set of tissue culture raised plantlets planted in the field.
Introduction Plant tissue culture is a collection of micro techniques used to maintain and grow plant cells under sterile conditions on a nutrient culture medium of known composition.

Tissue culture is applied in plant research for growing of new plants, which in some cases undergo genetic alterations.

The plant of interest is taken through the tissue culture process and grown under sterile conditions to prevent various types of microorganisms from affecting the process.
Tissue culture technique is used for rapid propagation of plants in a short time under controlled conditions.

The seedlings produced in the process are free of bacterial and fungal diseases.

A whole plant can be regenerated from a small tissue or plant cells in a suitable culture medium under controlled environment.

The plantlets produced are called tissue- culture raised plants.
Plant tissue culture is widely used to produce clones of a plant in a method known as micro-propagation where the plantlets produced are a true copy of the mother plant and show characteristics identical to the mother plant.

Project Details The major focus of sugarcane tissue culture at the institute is to produce disease free planting materials of clones with selected varieties, which aids in seed cane production and acts as a substitute method in event of any viral disease outbreak.
The lab work comprises Inoculation from the very first stage to sub culturing in intervals of 15-20 days to different stages till Rooting stage, medium preparation (with macronutrients, micronutrients and plant growth hormones for the explant to survive in a controlled environment).

Cleaning procedures includes glass wares cleaning, general lab cleaning and sterilization practices.

There is a total of 5 varieties propagated in the lab: Qamea, Viwa, Aiwa, LF91-1925 and Naidiri.
SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI I N O T C U D O R P P O R C 73 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Graphical Analysis This will supplement the seed material being produced through hot water treatment to provide quality and clean seed material to the growers.

The current lab set up has space limitation with a total of 10,170 plantlets with increasing number of new plantlets.

The trend below shows the progress from the time procedures were changed and how it has been performing.
Figure 2: Production analysis Nov-19 Sep-19 Jul-19 May-19 Mar-19 Jan-19 Nov-18 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 No.

of plantlets Initiation Multiplication (M0-M4) Multiplication (M5-M6) Shooting Figure 3: Multiplication stage Conclusion The farmers can receive seed cane stalks from the tissue cultured sugarcane after 18-24 months from the initial production of the seed cane material to the field.
It has been a successful year as the production of 10,000 plantlets were achieved and first hardening trial successfully transferred to the field.
I N O T C U D O R P P O R C SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 74 2019 ANNUAL REPORT FACP 11052 22229 5474 2019 5425 9132 5357 21156 23119 22967 10990 10956 22182 registrations Rarawai 2018 Appendix 1: Main features of 2019 season compared with 2018 Lautoka Mill → 2018 Year → Total (Numbers) Total farm basic allotments (tonnes) Total registered area (hectares) Total area cultivated (hectares) Total area harvested (hectares) Total farm harvest quotas (tonnes) Sugar make actual (tonnes) Tonnes 94 N.T sugar Yield tonnes 94 N.T.
sugar per hectare Tonnes cane per sugar 94 N.T.
%POCS Cane purity average season Tonnes cane harvested Tonnes cane crushed 60825 42947 58439 38017 tonnes 10225 60256 57856 9283 12 10 77 for 11 11 11 79 81 10 4 7 7 4 11 10 80 44830 48001 10895 Labasa 2018 Penang 2018 2019 All mills Open 64332 65435 67011 68007 5 9 12 82 5 10 11 81 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 57856 168702 60256 58944 7 11 11 81 6 11 10.35 80.2 1697370 1544041 1806561 1806507 457480 474914 479625 523920 620328 661919 139937 145808 NIL 457480 657160 466233 487428 620328 661919 NIL Appendix 2: Monthly rainfall(mm) for 2019 compared with long term average Mills No.
of years Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang 2019 actual 110 yrs.

avg.

to 2019 2019 actual 133 yrs.

avg.

to 2019 2019 actual 130 yrs.

avg.

to 2019 2019 actual 121 yrs.

avg.
to I N O T C U D O R P P O R C 75 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Appendix 3: Crop production details Lautoka 2018 Rarawai 2018 2019 Labasa Penang All mills 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 777 765 590 7151 9283 1799 1340 400 6686 10225 96398 70173 18662 294392 479625 Areas harvested (hectares) 756 Plant 653 First ratoon 478 2nd ratoon 7245 Other ratoons Total 9132 Cane harvested (tonnes) 45714 44428 Plant 45664 39011 First ratoon 33250 25896 2nd ratoon 350286 348146 Other ratoons Total 474914 457480 Yield tonnes cane per hectare (tch) 53.6 58.8 58.8 Plant 52.4 59.8 59.7 First ratoon 46.7 54.1 56.4 2nd ratoon 44.0 49.0 48.1 Other ratoons Avg.
yield/ha 46.9 55.0 50.1 Varieties crushed (% of total cane harvested) 0.3 1.5 Ragnar 0.3 0.0 Aiwa nil 1.2 Beqa nil 0.7 Galoa 6.0 2.7 Kaba 0.3 0.0 Mali 90.3 90.6 Mana 1.2 2.1 Naidiri nil 0.1 Vatu 0.3 0.1 Waya 1.0 0.4 LF91-1925 nil 0.4 Kiuva nil 0.1 Qamea nil nil Viwa 0.3 nil Expt./Others 100 100 Total nil nil 6.4 0.1 90.1 0.7 nil 0.3 1.3 nil nil nil 0.3 100 47.9 49.8 44.1 40.4 42.9 20.2 0.1 nil 5.5 0.5 8.9 0.0 45.4 10.3 5.4 2.7 0.3 nil 0.3 0.5 100 49.0 55.0 49.0 44.0 49.0 20.7 0.1 0.0 4.5 0.2 7.5 0.0 49.4 8.7 4.6 3.1 0.5 nil 0.2 0.4 100 35.7 58.9 58.3 40.7 42.7 0.7 nil nil nil 0.2 0.1 96.5 2.2 nil 0.1 nil nil nil nil Appendix 4: Rainfall (mm) at mill centres Mill Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang For 12 months ended 31st December For 12 months ended 30th September I N O T C U D O R P P O R C SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 76 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Appendix 5: Rainfall distribution affecting 2019 crop(mm) Month Period Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang Period Early Mid Late Early Mid Late Early Mid Late Early
 Mid Late Early Mid Late Early Mid Late Early Mid Late Early Mid Late Early Mid Late Early Mid Late Early Mid Late Early Mid Late Penang 6.4 2.1 0.4 117.5 79.4 2.1 14.9 2.8 17.5 83.3 198.5 58.6 Nil 58.8 10.8 54.2 6.9 10.4 58.6 175.3 61.3 118.5 78.9 57.4 115.0 11.1 113.5 5.8 107.8 361.2 13.9 7.6 Nil 15.0 3.8 45.0 Early - 1st to 10th of the month Mid - 11th to 20th of the month Late - 21st to end of the month Rarawai nil nil nil Nil Nil Nil 11.2 5.5 Nil 75.5 58.5 37.2 Nil 57.9 25.3 29.8 104.9 Nil 34.4 240.8 248.0 57.0 157.2 Nil 117.4 Nil 196.8 27.0 95.0 156.0 1.4 2.2 Nil 14.8 39.5 72.4 Lautoka nil 1 nil nil nil nil 25.5 nil nil 38.5 88.4 82.0 5.3 41.2 33.9 29.1 18.9 63.6 24.6 127.6 67.7 77.9 138.6 3.0 125.5 17.6 43.8 44.7 154.5 129.3 Nil 6.2 Nil 3.1 2.2 6.5 Labasa 6.9 18.5 nil nil nil nil 10 8.0 55.7 62.8 180.0 40.2 Nil 27.3 3.7 56.3 23.4 6.4 197.9 164.9 138.7 117.5 118.1 36.0 75.9 73.8 119.8 77.6 114.4 176.9 13.5 1.0 Nil 43.3 2.0 81.4 Month Jul-18 Aug-18 Sep-18 Oct-18 Nov-18 Dec-18 Jan-19 Feb-19 Mar-19 Apr-19 May-19 Jun-19 I N O T C U D O R P P O R C 77 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI Appendix 6: Hectares harvested Mills Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang All mills Crop P R Total P R Total P R Total P R Total P R Total Average for period of five seasons 1996/ 2000 2944 19701 22645 3164 14613 17777 2597 18348 20945 1120 4674 5794 9825 57336 67161 2001/ 2005 1042 19730 20772 1055 17585 18640 1269 15911 17180 542 4568 5110 3908 57794 61702 1991/ 1995 3634 20580 24214 2899 17360 20259 3120 19604 22724 1386 4958 6344 11039 62502 73541 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 2006/ 2010 788 14614 15402 1127 14553 15680 1116 14039 15155 339 3991 4330 3369 47197 50567 2011/ 2015 775 10630 11405 953 11367 12320 1403 11500 12903 368 3142 3510 3499 36640 40139 Last four seasons individually 12800
Appendix 7: Tonnes of cane harvested Mills 1991/ 1995 Average for period of five seasons 2001/ 2005 971454 878509 840388 239044 2929395 1996/ 2000 1216597 957507 1017061 309205 3500370 1283569 1017374 1166055 291206 3758204 Last four seasons individually 2006/ 2010 763321 738316 695728 213253 2410619 2011/ 2015 516159 551682 547372 170698 1785912 2016 2017 2018 2019 372288 269800 653353 91806 1387247 429570 407861 675731 118231 1631393 457480 479625 620328 139937 1697370 474914 394164 661919 NIL 1530997 Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang All mills Appendix 8: Tonnes of cane per hectare harvested Mills Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang All Mills Crop P R Total P R Total P R Total P R Total P R Total Average for period of five seasons 1996/ 2000 64.2 51.4 53.7 62.1 52.9 53.9 56.5 47.4 48.6 62.6 51.2 53.3 61.8 50.0 52.1 2001/ 2005 63.9 45.9 46.8 59.6 46.4 47.1 59.7 47.6 48.9 54.2 46.4 46.8 58.3 46.0 47.5 1991/ 1995 64.7 51.2 52.4 61.2 48.1 50.1 59.3 50.4 51.3 57.2 43.1 46.0 61.2 48.1 50.2 2006/ 2010 67.2 47.6 49.1 58.8 44.8 46.5 56.7 43.5 45.8 56.3 48.3 49.1 59.5 45.8 47.3 2011/ 2015 57.7 44.3 45.2 56.7 43.8 44.8 53.4 41.4 42.7 50.6 48.4 48.6 55.3 43.5 44.5 Last four seasons individually I N O T C U D O R P P O R C SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 78 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Appendix 9: Hectares harvested in relation to registered area and cultivated area (ha) Mills Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang Total 2019 hectares (A) Hectares harvested as % of various categories "A" Registered (1) 23119 22229 19780 3413 56771 Cultivated (2) 10066 11052 15748 3413 40279
 Harvested 9283 10895 14214 3251 37643 (1) 40.2 49.0 71.9 95.3 66.3 (2) 43.5 49.7 91.0 100.0 94.0 Appendix 10: Plant cane harvested as percentage of total cane harvested Mills Last four seasons individually Average for period of five seasons 1996/ 2000 13.0 18.0 12.0 19.0 15.0 1991/ 1995 15.0 14.0 14.0 23.0 16.0 2001/ 2005 5.0 6.0 7.0 11.0 7.0 Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang All mills 2006/ 2010 5.5 8.2 8.2 8.2 7.4 2011/ Appendix 11: Plant, ratoon yields and percentage of total area harvested - 2019 Crop Mills First ratoon Plant Other ratoons tch 58.8 52.0 49.0 52.0 52.0 Area ha 777 1309 1812 428 4326 % of Area 8.4 12.0 12.7 13.0 12.0 tch 60.0 51.0 55.0 49.0 54.0 Area ha 765 1716 1929 342 4751 % of Area 8.0 16.0 14.0 11.0 13.0 tch 53.0 46.0 47.0 46.0 48.0 Area ha 7741 7870 10473 2482 28566 % of Area 83 72 74 76 76 Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang All Mills All cane Area ha 9283 10895 14214 3252 37643 tch 51.2 48.0 47.0 45.0 48.0 Appendix 12: Seasonal %POCS in cane Mills Rough average for period of five seasons Last four seasons individually 1991/ 1995 12.5 12.9 12.1 12.6 12.5 1996/ 2000 11.4 11.4 11.1 11.1 11.2 2001/ 2005 11.5 11.9 11.5 11.9 11.7 2006/ 2010 10.8 10.9 10.7 11.1 11.0 2011/ 2015 11.4 11.3 11.5 11.1 11.4 2016 2017 2018 2019 10.7 9.7 11.7 NIL 10.6 11.8 11.4 11.1 NIL 11.6 10.6 10.0 11.5 NIL 10.6 10.0 10.0 10.8 NIL 10.4 Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang All Mill Avg.
I N O T C U D O R P P O R C 79 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI Rarawai 10.34 10.64 10.83 10.81 10.96 10.98 11.02 10.93 10.79 10.84 10.73 10.84 10.74 10.13 9.97 10.01 9.65 9.97 9.00 9.20 9.70 9.20 Appendix 13: Weekly POCS in cane 2019 season week 26 27 Average Note – Penang mill did not operate damaged by Cyclone Winston Lautoka 9.39 9.45 10.12 10.56 10.49 10.44 10.23 10.06 10.34 10.24 10.07 10.26 10.44 10.42 10.45 10.52 10.42 10.06 9.92 9.42 8.61 9.43 8.41 8.94 8.71 9.53 9.16 9.86 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Week average 10.46 10.15 10.40 10.57 10.61 10.84 10.68 10.58 10.76 10.70 10.66 10.76 10.74 10.52 10.47 10.53 10.37 10.32 9.90 9.76 9.57 9.56 9.23 9.44 9.22 9.53 9.16 10.20 Labasa 11.65 10.36 10.25 10.35 10.39 11.09 10.79 10.76 11.16 11.03 11.17 11.18 11.05 11.01 10.98 11.06 11.04 10.92 10.78 10.67 10.40 10.04 10.04 9.93 9.72 10.33 10.71 Appendix 14: Sugar produced (tonnes 94 N.T.
equivalent) Mills Tonnes sugar 94 N.T equivalent Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang All mills N/A 143040 2017 52021 57167 67010 N/A 176198 2018 60256 42708 64332 N/A 167296 2019 60825 44830 65435 N/A 168702 Appendix 15: Sugar tonnes 94 N.T equivalent per hectare (tsh) Mills Average for period of five seasons 1991/1995 1996/2000 2001/2005 2006/2010 2011/2015 4.9 4.9 5.1 5.5 5.1 6.2 6.3 6.0 5.5 6.1 4.4 4.0 4.0 5.4 4.3 4.9 5.4 5.0 4.7 5.1 5.6 5.6 5.0 5.4 5.4 Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang Average Last five seasons individually 2017 8.4 8.7 9.3 5.7 8.0 2015 5.9 5.2 6.4 5.2 5.8 2016 4.0 2.6 5.7 NIL 3.9 2018 10.5 11.2 9.3 NIL 10.3 2019 11.0 10.0 10.0 NIL 10.0 I N O T C U D O R P P O R C SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 80 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Appendix 16: Length of season (weeks) - Start and finish of crushing (date) Mills Average length of season (5 yearly) Last four seasons individually 1991/ 1995 1996/ 2000 2001/ 2005 2006/ 2010 2011/ 2015 Lautoka 28.0 29.7 27.6 27.0 Rarawai 25.3 26.5 24.2 28.0 22.1 Labasa 29.4 30.7 24.1 25.9 18.7 Penang All mills 21.5 26.1 26.2 28.2 20.4 24.1 22.5 25.9 18.1 Appendix 17: Varieties Percent of hectares harvested 2016 2017 2018 2019 21.0 20/06/16 To 16/11/16 19.0 20/07/16 To 31/11/16 20.4 16/06/16 To 06/11/16 No crushing 20.1 19.1 06/06/17 To 17/10/17 20.5 07/06/17 To 28/10/17 24.4 01/06/17 To 19/11/17 No crushing 21.3 24 09/07/18 To 17/10/18 22.9 17/07/18 To 24/12/18 26 19/06/18 To 12/12/18 No crushing 24.3 26 13/06/2019 To 15/12/2019 22 08/07/2019 To 09/12/2019 25 12/06/2019 To 05/12/2019 No crushing 25 Varieties Ragnar Waya Mali Galoa Aiwa Mana LF91-1925 Kaba Vatu Beqa Naidiri Kiuva Qamea Viwa Exp.
Others Lautoka 2018 1.5 0.1 0.0 0.7 0.0 90.6 0.4 2.7 0.1 1.2 2.1 0.4 0.1 - - 0.0 Rarawai Labasa Penang All Mills Appendix 18: Area planted in hectares as % of registered and cultivated areas Mills Hectares planted Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang Total 2017 2018 2019 892.4 2163.2 2160.2 418.2 5634.0 860.9 1705.8 2035.2 476.2 5077.1 560.8 921.8 1186.4 386.9 3055.9 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI I N O T C U D O R P P O R C 81 Hectares planted as % of registered area 2017 2019 2018 Hectares planted as % of cultivated area Appendix 19: Percentage of total area planted by different varieties over three years 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Lautoka % 0.2 0.2 Area ha 1.7 2.1 Rarawai % 0.1 - Area ha 1.8 - Labasa % Area ha 291 169.4 13.5 8.3 Penang % Area ha - - - - All mills % Area ha 3.4 171.5 - - 0.2 0.2 4.0 2.6 1.8 2.0 38.7 40.8 - - - - - - 831.4 829.4 92.7 97.7 2005.5 1666.5 Mali Vatu Aiwa Mana Waya Galoa Ragnar Year Varieties Qamea Others Naidiri Kiuva Kaba Beqa LF91-1925 Experiment - - 93.2 96.3 0.0 - - - - - 0.6 0.3 - 0.1 0.8 0.5 3.6 0.8 -
 0.0 0.8 0.7 - - - - - - - - - - 0.0 0.2 - - 5.2 1.8 1.1 0.0 - - 0.4 0.1 - 0.1 0.4 - - - - - 5.7 2.4 - 0.7 7.4 4.1 32.5 7.1 - 0.3 7.2 6.2 - - - - 0.5 - 4.1 - 0.3 - - - 3.7 2.8 12.4 4.8 5.2 3.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.2 - - 88.5 94.4 370.0 449.3 58.0 2945.2 79.8 57.8 97.8 112.7 60.8 0.0 0.2 0.0 - 6.4 4.4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.1 57.8 1.9 97.8 1.2 60.8 0.1 5.8 0.0 0.7 0.8 38.5 - - - - - - 1.0 3.2 - - 112.2 30 24.3 0.6 62.3 72.7 1347 1478.8 8.8 5.6 36.8 26.9 29.8 1513.4 - - 7.9 1.3 - 1.6 - 6.5 - 0.2 0.4 6.3 4.8 - 0.5 - - 1.1 - 5.3 8.1 136 98.1 - 11.1 - - 23.2 - - - 0.4 - - 0.0 - - - - - 1.8 - - 0.4 - - - 0.2 8.4 2.1 105.6 - 0.3 - 13.8 - - - - I N O T C U D O R P P O R C SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 82 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Appendix 20: Cane transport in Fiji (tonnes of cane harvested and actual method of delivery) Lorry direct to mill Mills carrier Winch trailer or lorry to mainline Delivered portable line Year Lautoka Rarawai Labasa Penang All mills Tonnes 9491 2065 12464 1436 nil 50 168 nil 1308 23586 14772 22054 14006 12032 8189 5577 1132 760 nil 840 nil nil nil nil 12012 nil 23930 nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil 33077 17677 8630 15442 12032 8239 1775.7 1132 25998 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI % of Total 1.5 0.4 1.7 0.3 nil .01 0.0 nil 0.3 3.6 3.6 6.3 2.2 2.5 3.0 1.4 0.2 0.1 nil 0.2 nil nil nil nil 1.8 nil 3.6 nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil 1.6 1.1 2.0 0.8 0.7 0.5 1.1 0.07 1.4 I N O T C U D O R P P O R C 83 Tonnes nil nil nil nil 695639 376467 451446 415826 417798 309363 256013 303144 319499 % of Total
 nil nil nil nil 33.2 24.3 26.2 22.7 22.7 21.7 15.7 17.86 17.7 Tonnes % of Total Total Tonnes % of Total Appendix 21: Percentage burnt cane of total tonnes crushed Year Lautoka % Total 1444504 1507831 639823 1731580 947593 1526648 1090111 1116916 1537337 1347531 1112957 1109778 1341537 1337977 1515880 1561446 1160879 625763 1433143 1301752 906743 1137123 890499 1032127 890779 1051097 741231
 770569 726046 527663 652333 481483 726046 520264 244680 281824 214336 293513 274535 Rarawai % Total Labasa % Total Penang % ANNUAL REPORT Average % Total Total 3,931,432 4,074,864 2,202,533 4,396,487 3,042,441 4,108,965 2,960,463 3,185,272 4,098,933 4,015,528 3,380,402 3,532,640 3,703,904 4,064,251 4,110,058 4,379,215 3,279,606 2,098,021 3,958,138 3,786,879 2,804,781 3,422,583
 2,609,680 3,001,189 2,788,740 3,226,100 2,478,691 2,321,620 2,246,631 1,780,053 2,095,435 1,546,974 1,779,339 1,832,181 719375 829202 40552 943378 885058 I N O T C U D O R P P O R C SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 84 2019 ANNUAL REPORT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 85 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT OVERVIEW The transfer of knowledge from research into farming practice is constant requirement for the industry to develop new ways of working and thinking.
Technology transfer involves transfer of knowledge and technical -knowhow as well as physical devices and equipment’s.

Under Technology transfer SRIF has following programs; Grower demonstration trials, Seed cane Nurseries, Estate farms and improving Soil health initiatives such as Green Manure.
Under these programs SRIF demonstrates best management practices related to sugarcane farming by advocating on importance of fallow management, quality seed cane, variety diversification, crop establishment, nutrient management, timely weed control and fertilizer application, pest and disease control, irrigation and drainage management and best harvesting practices.
To successfully carry out technology transfer work, the following needs to be adopted: ✓ FSC to dedicate full time farm advisory officers or SRIF recruits additional Technical staff at district level to fulfill the demand for technical support needed by farmers.

✓ SRIF should recruit a set of support staff at district level to assist in technology transfer initiatives such as assist in planting demo plots and seed cane nurseries.
✓ Grower demonstration trial and field information days process needs to be reviewed and only farmers who are committed and have potential should be encouraged to participate.

✓ Industry stakeholders should implement measures to control increasing burnt cane issues.

✓ 10-wheeler and 12-wheeler trucks should not be allowed to transport mechanically harvested sugarcane as they do substantial damage to the crop.
✓ More research should be done on new weedicides that are available overseas as Glyphosate will be banned in near future and some residual herbicides currently been used in Fiji might as well be banned in future due to its effects on environment and marine ecosystem.

✓ More trials on best irrigation option for Fiji Sugar Industry to be considered.

✓ More demonstration plots should be established in the sectors for the farmers to make them aware of the varieties and technologies developed by SRIF.
Mechanization, legumes and weed management should be the major focus due to yield being lost in field by excessive weeds, lack of labour and depleting soil health.

R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 86 2019 ANNUAL REPORT ✓ Legume crop should be intercropped with sugar cane to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizer since it fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere in the soil.

It gives additional income to the farmer as cash crop.
It should also be incorporated as green manuring to improve soil health which is deteriorating due to continuous mono culturing of sugarcane crop and use of chemical fertilizers.

✓ Clean seed material should be used by the farmers in order to prevent spreading of ratoon stunting disease.

More hot water treated seed cane nurseries should be established in the sectors for the farmers convenience.
This will minimise cost of transportation of seed cane and encourage farmers to use the clean seed material in their farms.

✓ Harvesting with the harvesters in the farms should be monitored and controlled to avoid unnecessarily soil compaction which can lead to yield decline in the coming future of the sugarcane farming.

The traffic should be controlled well in the farm during harvesting.

✓ More focus should be given to farmers who are in production rather than the nil producing farmers.
Most of the nil producing farmers are not living on their farm or have settled somewhere else doing other jobs to earn their living therefore it is hard to bring them in production.

LAUTOKA MILL The sugarcane from 10 grower demonstration trials, which were planted in 2018, were harvested.

The results/yields from each plot, is given below in this report.

In early 2019, 5 field information days were held in some of the Grower Demonstration trials which were established in 2019.
Four additional Grower Demonstration trials, were planted in 2019 in Malolo, Meigunyah, and Lovu Sector.

The major themes covered in these demonstration trials are; transition to farm mechanization, soil health, importance of good land preparation, quality Seed cane, timely weed control and fertilizer application.

Two Green Manure trials, was planted in February 2019, in farm number 167 in Lovu Sector and SRIF Drasa Estate.
Despite late planting of the green manure black gram, the trial planted on farm number 167 in Lovu Sector did grow well and a major field day was organized which had 200 participants including farmers and industry stakeholders.
During the field day, participants also, visited R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 87 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT SRIF Drasa estate to see the impacts of green manuring for sugarcane growth and demonstration of pulse planter, which SRIF uses to plant urd and moong.

Towards the end of the year a meeting was, held with Fiji Sugar Corporation’s Extension team to discuss planting green manure trials in each of the sector in all mill areas.
15 hectares of Seed cane distribution plot was, planted in Tunalia Joint venture Farm, in Nadi.

The varieties planted in these plots include; Naidiri, Mana, Viwa and Qamea.

Improving Soil Heath: Green Manure and sugarcane Trash incorporation trials Declining soil fertility due to decades of mono cropping with sugarcane in cane areas of Fiji is a major concern for sustainability of Fiji sugar industry.

Trials were planted in SRIF Drasa Estate using legume crops such as urd and moong.
At flowering stage, these plants were incorporated, and left to decay in soil, before next crop of sugarcane was planted.

Additional two green manure trials were planted in SRIF Drasa estate in 2018 with different varieties of sugarcane planted after green manure was incorporated in the soil.
The sugarcane crop was harvested in 2019 season and the results are shown in the table below: Table 1: Past 3 years production comparison Year GM trial planted Farm 2016 11902 2017 11902 2018 11902 Grower Name SRIF - F/24 dual row SRIF - F/24 SRIF - F/11 Area (Ha) Crop Varieties Production Tph 3 3rd ratoon Viwa, LF91, Qamea, Naidiri 335.94 111.98 2.5 1st Ratoon Naidiri 270.4 108.16 1.5 Plant Viwa 204.61 136.41 2018 11902 SRIF - F/8 3.4 Plant Naidiri, Bea, Aiwa, Kaba, Mana 376.97 110.87 2018 2140 Upendra - Meigunyah Sector 0.5 Plant Naidiri/Viwa 45 90 R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 88 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 1: Green manure soil conditioning before planting sugarcane In addition to planting green manure, incorporating of sugarcane trash into the soil also enables organic matter retention and nutrient recycling.
It is, estimated that 6 to 8 tonnes of trash is produced per hectare depending on the sugarcane variety.

In 2019, two plots in SRIF Drasa estate were ploughed out together with the trash; this is something different in comparison to the past where trash was burnt before ploughing to allow for easier cultivation.

Trash incorporation (Trash decomposition took 2 to 3 months) in soil as many benefits and it should be always encouraged.
The disc plough was sharpened before use for added ease of trash incorporation.
R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 89 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 2: Sugarcane trash incorporated in soil during ploughing Improving soil fertility is a long process, therefore to improve and sustain sugar production in Fiji, good husbandry practices such as good fallow management with green manure crops, trash conservation, minimum/zero tillage, Green Cane harvesting and soil conversation needs to be practiced by all farmers.
To achieve this continuous capacity building training and empowerment for farmers is required.

Grower Demonstration Trials and field information days Grower demonstration trial and field information days are most commonly used technique to demonstrate the new/improved technologies and share research findings with farmers in Fiji sugar industry.
The following topics are, covered in the grower demonstration trials and respective field information days; ✓ Importance of improving Soil Health through Green Manuring ✓ Good Land Preparation and Soil Sampling ✓ Sugarcane Varieties & Quality Seed cane.

✓ Mechanical Planting of Sugarcane using whole stalk cane planter.

✓ Mechanical spraying (pre-emergence and Post emergence).

✓ Importance of Blend A and Blend B application.

✓ Importance of changing farm layout to suit mechanical harvesting.
✓ Benefits of using Mill mud.

✓ Integrated weed Management ✓ Timeliness of operations ✓ Benefits of intercropping ✓ Irrigation R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 90 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The following are results from the 2018 Grower demonstration trials harvested in 2019.
Table 2: List of grower demonstration trials for 2019 District Sector Farm # Area (Ha) Date Planted Tonnes Harvested TpHa Variety Lautoka Drasa 8087 0.6 21/06/18 72 120.0 Viwa/Mana Nadi Meigunyah 2140 0.5 29/06/18 45 90.0 Naidiri/Viwa Nadi Qeleloa 2426 0.73 28/06/18 86 117.8 Mana/Viwa Nadi Nawaicoba 10726 1.0 27/06/18 110 110.0 Mana/Viwa/Qamea Sigatoka Olosara 5695 0.7 06/07/18 79 112.4 Viwa/Naidiri Sigatoka Olosara 5533 0.4 20/06/18 30 75.0 Kaba Sigatoka Lomawai 11237 0.4 07/07/18 30 75.0 Naidiri/Viwa/Mana Lautoka Lovu 19085 1.7 03/12/18 210 127.2 Naidiri/Mana Lautoka Lovu 18162 1.0 19/12/18 122 122.1 Naidiri Lautoka Natova 866 1.0 02/12/18 100 100.3 Mana The above results show that in order to achieve high yields; best management practices need to be adopted.
These plots will be maintained as first ratoon, best ratoon management practices will be implemented and field days will be organized to share above results with neighboring farmers.

In 2019, additional four grower demonstration trials were, planted in Lautoka and Nadi districts.

The following are the details of demo plots planted in 2019.
Lautoka Sector /Location Lovu Est of Shiu Nadan Farm # 167 Table 3: Additional grower demonstration trials for Nadi & Lautoka districts Theme/attendance District Importance of improving soil health, Farm Mechanization 200 farmers/industry personnel attended this field day.
Importance of Land preparation Timely weed control Field day to be organized in 2020 Transition to farm Mechanization Timely weed control Topic Green Manure Farm Mechanization/Varietal Spread Farm Mechanization/timely operations Nadi Nadi Farm Mechanization/ integrated weed control Malolo Tunalia Joint Venture farm Meigunyah, Est of Aziz Mohammed Farm # 2270 Lovu Farm # 135 Velaidhan Farm Mechanization + Varietal Spread Mechanical planting Varietal Spread Timely planting and operations Lautoka R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 91 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 3 & 4: LEFT - Grower demo plot planting on farm number 167 in Lovu Sector, RIGHT - A mini-field information day was, organized for field staff at Tunalia JV Figure 5: A well establish plant cane in Tunalia Demo plot.
2018 drip irrigation trial results The 3.8 ha drip irrigation trial which was established in FSC Drasa estate in 2018 was harvested in 2019.

The following table shows the results and the summary of cost benefit analysis (CBA).
R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 92 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Table 4: Drip Irrigation trial CBA summary Crop Treatment Ratoon Plant Drip trial Control Drip tape in every row Drip tape in alternate row Area (ha) 1.08 1.08 Tonnes Tph Cost/ha Income/ha GM/ha GM/tonne 109.97 102.6 101.8 $13,171.27 $8,655.55 $(4,515.72) $4,505.50 95.0 $3,569.50 $8,075.00 $(44.35) $47.43 1.60 147.5 92.2 $3,171.27 $7,838.06 $(5,333.21) $(57.84) 1.19 94.8 79.7 $13,169.92 $6,770.71 $(6,399.21) $(80.34) *GM – gross margin Notes • For ratoon crop, the return on investment was negative in drip trial plot as the yield difference compared with control ratoon plot was only 6.83 tonnes.
• For plant crop, both plots had negative return on investment, however plot which has drip tapes in every row had better yield compared to alternate row plot.

• The trial was, planted in early November, and early onset of rainy season defeated the overall objective of this trial.

• With the favorable weather conditions prevailing throughout the 2019 season, the yield in control ratoon plot was much higher than expected.
• The reasons for high cost of setting up drip irrigation are as follows: o About 95% of the drip irrigation material were imported from Australia o The distance from water source (Matawalu River) to trial site - 1.7Km, which required 1.7Km long 4 inch lay flat pipe which is very expensive and also it requires high powered water pump(20hp) to push water through this distance.
o Laying of drip tapes, operating water pump after hours due high/low tide and collection of drip tapes in 3.8ha, matured/lodged sugarcane is very Labour intensive.

o Since the trial site was close to main highway and an access road crossing the fields, some drip tapes and main line pipes were damaged which needed to be, replaced this required additional funds.
R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 93 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 6: showing well established crop and collection of drip tapes from the trial Some of the constraints and challenges faced in technology transfer initiatives are: • Availability of FSC sector team leaders to participate and assist in Technology transfer activities taken by SRIF.

• Lack of support staff at district level to facilitate Technology transfer activities.
• Lack of interest from farmers to participate in field information/ FFS days.

• Increase in percentage of burnt cane harvesting.

• Outbreak of Termite infestation in Lautoka district, which restricts movement of seed cane from Lautoka to other districts.

SRIF is achieving some good yields in its estate farms and the grower demonstration trials planted, in different localities in different sectors.

These are results of continued research and innovation.
In order to replicate these results and improve the national sugarcane production, SRIF will require additional funding to have additional sets of equipment’s, recruit additional technical staff and support staff at district level.

Support from industry stakeholders especially FSC Extension team will be vital to train farmers on new innovative techniques and ideas to improve sugarcane yield in Fiji.
R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 94 2019 ANNUAL REPORT LABASA MILL A total of twelve demonstration plots were established in all the ten sectors of Vanua Levu.

Mainly the focus was on weed management, varieties, mill mud application, inter cropping and mechanization.

Out of twelve demonstration plots, eight field days were successfully conducted in sectors.

Hot water treatment plant was established at Labasa substation in 2018.
Total of 7.5-hectare hot water treated seed bed (mother plot) were established in Vanua Levu.

The mother plot that was established in the year 2018 was used to establish 15.78 hectares of distribution plot in all the ten sectors of Vanua Levu.

Total of three hundred tonnes of seed cane was utilised by the farmers for planting in their field and sixty tonnes of cane was used for establishing the mother plot.
To improve soil heath which has deteriorated due to continuous mono culturing of sugar cane from past decades, green manuring has been re- introduced.

The decline in soil organic matter and the acidic nature of the soil is attributed by the use of heavy machineries by farmers and soil erosion activities.

To overcome this problem farmers are advised to plant green manure crop and use soil amendments like lime to increase soil pH and improve organic matter content.
The major challenges for researchers are to disseminate the techniques developed by SRIF to the farmers.

The new systems and methods developed by researchers are more cost effective and environment friendly.

The major concern in today’s era is depleting soil health, weed management, use of appropriate varieties, adaptation to new machineries and its operations.
Taking this in consideration SRIF is transferring ideas and methods to the farmers through planting demonstration plots and conducting field days in the sectors for the farmers.

The demonstration plot established in the sectors are given in the table below.

Table 5: List of demonstration plots Demo plots Sectors Methods of planting and the importance of blend A + Lime during planting.
Wainikoro and Daku Integrated weed management - Intercropping (Watermelon) Integrated weed management Intercropping with integration of fruit trees on the boarders Quality seed cane and Varieties Bucaisau Solove + Natua + Bulivou Varieties Quality seed cane Intercropping (watermelon and cowpea) Varieties and quality seed cane Fallow land with leguminous crop (cowpea).
Trash conservation Spraying urea (5%) on trash for faster decomposition Quality seed cane + Varieties Application of Mill Mud and its benefits.

Waiqele Labasa + Vunimoli R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 95 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Integrated weed management Weed management is very important cultivation aspect towards yield.

Timely application of herbicides and weeding is vital towards sugarcane growth.
Pre and post emergent should be done on time and spot manual weeding is required if some of the weeds are not killed by the post emergent herbicide used in Fiji.

To make aware of the importance of integrated weed management, two field days were conducted in the farmer fields.

The pictures below show the demonstration done in the field and turn out during the field day.
Figure 7: Integrated weed management (IWM) practice & without IWM comparative demo plot Figure 8 & 9: LEFT - Integrated weed management field at Bucaisau sector, RIGHT - Boom sprayer demonstration for the farmers R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 96 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Importance of good land preparation and liming Farmers needs to know the importance of good land preparation.

The soil should reach fine tilth stage before planting to achieve good germination.
Proper land preparation procedure should be followed with two ploughing and two harrowing in eight-week interval.

A demonstration was done in Wainikoro sector to highlight this activity and application of lime in the field.

Soils which has low pH needs to be applied with lime in order to raise the soil pH to 6.5 so that plants are able to effectively absorb nutrients from the soil.

The picture below shows the demonstration done in the field.
Figure 10 & 11: LEFT - Good land preparation demonstration, RIGHT - Liming, blend A and planting demonstration Integration of fruit trees on the boarders of the sugar cane field Climate change is affecting the weather and seasons of planting.

Frequent droughts and unexpected natural disasters are becoming more severe.
To mitigate this problem food security is important and one of the measures taken up by ministry of agriculture together with SRIF is to integrate fruit trees with sugar cane on the boarders of the sugarcane fields.

This will generate additional income for the farmers and reduce carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The picture below shows the planting of banana suckers on the boarders of a demonstration plot for the farmers.
R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 97 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 12: Planting of banana suckers on the boarders of sugarcane field Varieties Varieties play vital role in the production of quality sugar by the mill.

SRIF is dedicated to continue breeding high sugar, disease resistance, drought tolerant and early maturing varieties.

The two new varieties released (Viwa and Qamea) has these characteristics.
Viwa is mid to late maturing and is highly suited for mechanical harvesting where as Qamea is early maturing and fast growing.

Five field days were conducted in Bucaisau, Solove and Natua sector.

These two new varieties were introduced to the farmers and its characteristics were demonstrated on the farmer fields.

Farmers were advised to plant these two varieties and also Naidiri as these are high sugar yielding and suitable for poor soil types.
The pictures below show the varieties in the field and the farmers turnout in the field days: Figure 13 & 14: LEFT - Qamea variety in Bucaisau sector, RIGHT - Farmers viewing Viwa variety and its characteristic in Natua sector R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 98 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Green manuring Green manuring is the key focus method used to improve soil heath and the institute targeted to plant green manure demonstration plots in all sectors and create awareness for the farmers.
A new legume planter has been purchased with European union funds for high density planting.

Using this planter, demo plots were planted towards the end of the year as this is the season of planting green manuring needs high rainfall for vigorous growth and decomposition.

The pictures below show the planter in use and field day conducted for farmers in Waiqele sector.
Figure 15 & 16: LEFT - Legume planter planting urd as green manure crop in Batinikama, RIGHT - Field day conducted in Waiqele sector on green manuring with cowpea Table 6: Green manure plots planted in the sectors Sectors Nakiko Estate Solove Bucaisau Waiqele Labasa Natua Crop Urd Bean Urd Bean + Cowpea Cowpea Cowpea Urd Urd Urea Blanket spraying on thrash at 5% rate Nitrogen is the component that is needed for faster bacterial activities which increases the rate of thrash decomposition in the field.
This will enable the plants to uptake and utilize the nutrient that is in the trash.

After the urea is sprayed it reduces the risk of trash burning.

SRIF has taken initiative to educate farmers on the effects of urea spraying and how it can reduce fertilizer cost and increase organic matter content in the soil at faster rate with the R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 99 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI use of urea.
The pictures below show a demonstration held for the farmers in the Vunimoli sector to create awareness on urea spraying.

2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 17 & 18: LEFT - Urea sprayed at 5 % in the demonstration plot, RIGHT - Farmers observing and learning about the urea spraying operation in the field Mechanization Farmers are turning to adapt machinery which carries out land preparation, planting, herbicide spraying and harvesting work for them in the field.

Labour is becoming scarce day by day in Fiji.


Therefore, SRIF intends to educate farmers on machinery such as planters, boom sprayers, fertilizer applicators, mill mud and lime applicator and other implements that requires minimum labour to operate.

Keeping this in mind a demonstration was carried out on how to use cutter planter and boom sprayer for dual purpose as for herbicide and urea spraying.

Also, legume planter and mill spreader were demonstrated to the farmers.
After the demonstration, more farmers were willing to adopt the planter planting method and use the boom sprayer to get their fields sprayed with herbicides.

Inter-cropping Sugarcane is cropped as a soul crop for many years in same particular piece of land.

It is known that sugarcane is a heavy feeder of nutrients and it exhausts the soil when it is continuously monocropped.

Soil is a living entity which needs time to replenish itself.
This can be done by fallowing the land, adding organic amendment and cultivating inter-crop together with sugarcane crop.

Keeping this in mind there was an inter-crop demonstration plot planted in the Vunimoli sector.

The legume used was cowpea with sugarcane.

The importance of legume was discussed with farmers in the field day.

The pictures below show the field and the participants of the field day.
R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 100 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Figure 19: Field cultivated with inter crop water melon (Daku sector) Quality seed cane It is in the best interest of the farmers that they plant clean and quality seed materials in order to avoid cane sugar yield loss by diseases and unapproved varieties.

SRIF has established a hot water treatment plant in Labasa with the aid from European Union.
This treatment plant was used in 2019 to treat and plant 7.5 hectares of mother plot in estate and farmers field.

One of the major diseases that threatens the quality of seed cane and can lead to yield loss is ratoon stunting disease (Leifonia xyli subsp.

Xyli) which is prevalent in Fiji (Johnson et al, 2006) and can cause loss up to 27% annually (Johnson and Tyagi, 2010).
Hot water treatment of seed cane kills the bacteria and avoids its spreading from one farm to the other as this is one of the modes of transmission.

Farmers should use clean sterilized equipment to harvest seed cane before taking it for planting in the field.

Approximately 16 hectares of distribution plot has been established in all the sectors.

The planted seed bed will be used by the farmers in the coming planting window of 2020.
By having the seedbeds in the sectors makes it convenient for the farmers to take the seed cane from the distribution plot established.

The reason for establishing the seed bed in the sectors are to reduce transportation cost for the farmers.

Farmers learn more once they are demonstrated the activities on the field and tend to adopt the ideas which they implement in the field.

Also, technical advice was provided to the new venturing farmers in the industry.
In the coming 2020 season more demos will be done for the farmers and seedbeds will be established in the sectors.

R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 101 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT RARAWAI MILL Introduction Weeds and nutrients are two crucial factors that has been affecting the production of sugarcane.

Research has found that weeds contribute between 20-70% yield loss depending upon the severity of infestation.
Sugarcane is planted with a relatively wider row spacing, sugarcane growth is very slow in the initial stages, the crop is grown under abundant water and nutrient supply conditions and generally trash is not retained in ratoon crops, gives opportunity for weeds to intensify.

Weeds can be controlled using a combination of chemical, mechanical and manual methods.

Sugarcane plants require essential nutrients for growth and maturity.
The cane and sugar yields are affected if the quantities of required nutrients are reduced.

Soil analysis gives an indication of soil health status, thus helps make good nutrient management decisions and provides accurate fertilizer quantities to be applied for optimum yield.

In the past, sugarcane farmers used to inculcate methods for soil management which in turn controlled the weed population, managed nutrients and soil at the same time.
Application of mill mud, sand, keeping fallow land, crop rotation and intercropping are some of the ways to improve and maintain soil health.

Many of these techniques have been detached by current farmers, thus, issues of soil, weeds and nutrient management is intensifying.

Educating farmers on best farming practices is important for the realization of optimum production.

A recent plan was initiated by SRIF to demonstrate best weeds and nutrients management in all sectors.
Objectives ✓ Demonstrate chemical, mechanical and manual methods of weed control using an integrated approach for weed control.

✓ Demonstrate integrated nutrient management using mill mud, cover crops, and intercrops where possible.
✓ Educate farmers on importance of soil and leaf sampling Methodology The planned activities of the demonstration plot included planting of demonstration trials in all sectors, holding field days and demonstrating best practices such as application of R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 102 2019 ANNUAL REPORT recommended rates of fertilizer and weedicide application, appropriate cultivation practices, and harvesting techniques.
Results A total of 9 demonstration plots were established on green manure (urd) in Rarawai, Tavua and Penang district.

Figure 28: Planting of Urd at Rarawai sector R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T 103 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI Figure 29: Mill mud spreader 2019 ANNUAL REPORT To demonstrate nutrient management, 3 trials were established on mill mud applications in Rarawai district.

In two trials, mill mud was applied in the drills and in the third trial mill mud was broadcast using a spreader.
For weed management demonstration, 3 plots were established in Sigatoka, Tavua and Penang district.

Information days will be held in all the trials in 2020.

Table 7: Rarawai mill area: Demo plots Sector Farm no.
Farmer name Rate of seeds Planting technique planted Varoko 8635 Veena Kiran Sharma 15 kg/ha Mechanical legume planter Rarawai 1623 Bindra Mati Koronubu 1283 Pushpa Wati 15 kg/ha 15 kg/ha Mechanical legume planter Mechanical legume planter Veisaru 18926 Jainendra Singh 15 kg/ha Mechanical legume planter Moto 22027 Mary Shaw Drumasi 3912 Mustaq Khan 15 kg/ha 15 kg/ha Mechanical legume planter Mechanical legume planter Ellington 1 3209 Luke Caucaugasa 15 kg/ha Mechanical legume planter Ellington 2 14107 Gajraj Dobuilevu 14148 SRIF 15 kg/ha 15 kg/ha Mechanical legume planter Mechanical legume planter Area (ha) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.3 Table 8: Rarawai mill area: Nutrient management using mill mud applications Sector Farm no.
Farmer name Date Varieties planted planted Planting technique Koronubu 1289 Nilesh 30-11-2019 Mana Applied by mill mud spreader and incorporated Veisaru 28192 Ellas Muni Lata 21-11-2019 Mana Manual.

Mill mud applied in drills Table 9: Weed management demo plot in Rarawai Sector Farm No.
Farmer Name Varieties planted Activity Ellington 2 14017 Gajraj Viwa, Qamea, Naidiri Pre-emergence using Velpar @ 4kg/ha R E F S N A R T Y G O L O N H C E T SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 104 2019 ANNUAL REPORT SRIF ESTATES S E T A T S E F R S I 105 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT DRASA ESTATE SRIF Drasa Estate A total of 2832 tonnes of sugarcane was harvested from SRIF Drasa estate farm for 2019 season.
2688 tonnes was harvested and sent to the mill while growers took 144 tonnes as seed cane.

16.81 % (451.87 tonnes) of sugarcane was, harvested as burnt cane, which was all due to case of arson and 83.19% (2236 tonnes) was, harvested as green cane.
All sugarcane except for seed cane was harvested mechanically and about 35% (949.40 tonnes) was transported through rail using cages bins at the cost of $22.50 per tonne and remaining 65% (1738.47tonnes) was transported using Lorry at the cost of $28.50 per tonne.

Total crop increased by almost 30% compared to 2018 season.
Favorable weather conditions, Good fallow management with green manure crops, use of Quality seed cane, timely weed control and fertilizer application contributed to this increase in production.
Table 1: Drasa Estate 2019 Production Record Field Plot 7 8 11 24 25 Total 1, 2 ,3 &4 1 2 Area (Ha) 4 3.4 1.5 20 1 0.6 30.5 Constraints and challenges Tonnes Tph Variety 396.84 376.97 204.61 1673.66 95.467 84.45 2831.997 99.21 Ragnar, Naidiri, Aiwa, Beqa 110.87 Naidiri, Ragnar, Aiwa, Beqa, Kaba, Mana 136.41 Viwa 83.68 commercial varieties and research plots 95.467 Viwa 140.75 Aiwa 92.85 Loss of sugarcane due to mechanical harvesting and use of 10 and 12-wheeler trucks for sugarcane transporting.
Limited options available for weedicides, which may lead to weeds building resistance to certain weedicides Figure 1 & 2: LEFT - Sugarcane harvesting and transporting using cage bins, RIGHT - Fertilizer application using side dresser/ratoon king S E T A T S E F R S I SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 106 2019 ANNUAL REPORT LABASA ESTATE Labasa has an area of thirteen hectares of land for research trials and hot water treated seed cane.
Out of 13 hectares land, 5 hectares is kept fallow for every season heat treated seed bed planting.

Around 5 hectares of cane were harvested in the estate which were not suitable for seed cane.

Total of 265 tonnes of cane was sent to mill for crushing and three hundred and fifty tonnes of cane was utilised from the mother plot for the establishment of the distribution plot in the ten-sector area.
The seven and half hectare seed bed established in the estate will be ready for planting in the coming planting window as distribution plot.

The growth of the seed cane was affected due to below average rainfall achieved during the year but with some rain during the season the cane regained itself.

The seed cane should be available to the farmers in the coming planting season.

The fields that have been ploughed out and planted with green manure crop to improve the soil health.
the green manure crop will be ploughed in February, 2020 and will be used for planting cane in May, 2020.

The major objective of the estate land is to produce hot water treated seed cane for the farmers.

Quality seed cane will ensure good germination and the cane will be free from disease which will ensure high yield for the farmers.

By establishing seed bed will ensure that no unapproved and mixture of the varieties are planted by the farmers.
RARAWAI ESTATE Rarawai Estate has a total of 20.3 ha available for cultivation.

Greater portion of this area is used for Research Trials (mostly Plant Breeding Early Stages and Advance Stage trials).

Remaining area is used for commercial seed cane production using hot water treated seed cane.

In 2019, a total of 1004.01 tonnes was harvested from an area of 16.8 ha whereas remaining 2.8 and 0.7 ha was under fallow and seed cane harvested respectively.
The research trials yields are low due to roadways and test varieties in early selection stages whereas the commercials have many old ratoons that are ear-marked for re-planting.

The depleting soil health may be a contributing factor and green manuring was conducted in 2 plots results to be seen in coming years.

The green manuring will be continued in other fields.

Plans have been put in place to plough out un-economical ratoons and establish new commercial seed cane plots.
S E T A T S E F R S I 107 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT APPROVED VARIETIES I I S E T E R A V D E V O R P P A SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 108 2019 ANNUAL REPORT The list of sugarcane varieties approved for planting has been revised to include maturity trends.

Varieties that are no longer planted have been removed from the approved varieties list.

The varieties are recommended to growers on their soil type.
The growers have a choice of at least three varieties to plant on their farms as laid down in the Master Award.
Mill/Sectors Soil types Varieties recommended on maturity trends Lautoka/Olosara Rich alluvial soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Early – mid maturing Mid – late maturing Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Lautoka/Cuvu Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils Sandy soils LF91-1925, Qamea LF91-1925 Kaba, Mana, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Viwa Lautoka/Lomawai Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils Sandy soils LF91-1925, Qamea LF91-1925 Kaba, Mana, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Galoa Lautoka/Yako Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils Sandy soils LF91-1925, Qamea LF91-1925 Kaba, Mana, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Galoa Lautoka/Nawaicoba Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Poor soils Sandy soils LF91-1925, Qamea LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Galoa Lautoka/Malolo Flat Fertile soil Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Lautoka/Qeleloa Rich alluvial soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Lautoka/Meigunyah Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri,
 LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Lautoka/Legalega I I S E T E R A V D E V O R P P A 109 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Mill/Sectors Soil types Varieties recommended on maturity trends Early – mid maturing Mid – late maturing Lautoka/Natova Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Poor soils Sandy soils LF91-1925, Qamea LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Galoa Lautoka/Lautoka Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Lautoka/Saweni Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Lautoka/Saweni Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Sandy soils LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Galoa Lautoka/Lovu Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Lautoka/Drasa Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Poor soils Sandy soils LF91-1925, Qamea LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Galoa Rarawai/Varoko Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Rarawai/Mota Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Rarawai/Naloto Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva,
 Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Rarawai/Koronubu Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Rarawai/Veisaru Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa I I S E T E R A V D E V O R P P A SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 110 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Mill/Sectors Soil types Varieties recommended on maturity trends Early – mid maturing Mid – late maturing Rarawai/Veisaru Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Rarawai/Rarawai Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Rarawai/Varavu Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Rarawai/Tagitagi Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Mana, Kaba, Vatu, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Saline areas Naidiri, LF91-1925 Kaba, Mana, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Galoa Rarawai/Yaladro Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Rarawai/Drumasi Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Mana, Kaba, Vatu, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Saline areas Naidiri, LF91-1925 Kaba, Mana, Viwa Kaba, Mana, Galoa Labasa/Waiqele Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva,
 Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mali, Viwa Labasa/Wailevu Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils Saline soils Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mali, Viwa Naidiri, LF91-1925 Galoa, Vatu Labasa/Vunimoli Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mali, Viwa Labasa/Labasa Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Labasa/Labasa I I S E T E R A V D E V O R P P A Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils Saline soils Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mali, Viwa Naidiri, LF91-1925 Galoa, Vatu, Mali 111 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Mill/Sectors Soil types Varieties recommended on maturity trends Labasa/Bucaisau Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Early – mid maturing Mid – late maturing Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Waya, Viwa Poor soils Saline soils Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Waya, Mali, Viwa Naidiri, LF91-1925 Galoa, Vatu, Mali Labasa/Wainikoro Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Waya, Viwa Poor soils Saline soils Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Waya, Mali, Viwa Naidiri, LF91-1925 Galoa, Vatu, Mali Labasa/Daku Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Waya, Viwa Labasa/Natua Labasa/Solove Poor soils Poor soils Poor soils Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Waya, Mali, Viwa Aiwa, Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Ragnar, Kaba, Mali,
 Viwa Aiwa, Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Ragnar, Kaba, Mali, Viwa Labasa/Bulivou Poor soils Aiwa, Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Ragnar, Kaba, Mali, Viwa Penang/Nanuku Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Salt affected areas Naidiri, LF91-1925 Galoa Viti Vanua area Naidiri, LF91-1925, Qamea Mana, Kaba, Kiuva, Mali, Viwa Penang/Malau Rich alluvial soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Mali, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Salt affected areas Naidiri, LF91-1925 Galoa Penang/Ellington Flat Fertile soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Kiuva, Viwa Medium soils Aiwa, Beqa, Naidiri, LF91-1925 Ragnar, Kaba, Vatu, Kiuva, Mali, Viwa Poor soils LF91-1925, Qamea Kaba, Mana, Viwa Salt affected areas Naidiri, LF91-1925 Galoa I I S E T E R A V D E V O R P P A SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 112 2019 ANNUAL REPORT ABBREVIATIONS SRIF FSC SIT SCGC SCGF MoS SPF FMS EU - Sugar Research Institute of Fiji - Fiji Sugar Corporation Ltd - Sugar Industry Tribunal - Sugar Cane Growers Council - Sugar Cane Growers Fund - Ministry of Sugar - South Pacific Fertilizers - Fiji Meteorological Services - European Union POCS or pocs or Pocs - Pure obtainable cane sugar SUC or Suc NPK N P K RCBD Rep Trt or Trts Tph or Tpha Tsh or Tsha - - Sucrose Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium - Nitrogen - Phosphorus - Potassium - Randomized Complete Block Design - Replication - Treatment(s) - Tonnes cane per hectare - Tonnes sugar per hectare TC/TS or tc/ts - Tonnes cane per tonnes sugar (tonnes of cane required to AVG./Avg.
LF[YEAR] G x E FFE QBPS FSI ASPAC LBC FTIR CQD IMG UV-VIS RMSECV SOI ENSO STC COSPPac CBA produce 1 ton of sugar) - Average - Lautoka Fiji [year in which the fuzz was planted], e.g.
LF2014 - Genetic by Environment - Farmer Feel Effect - Quality Based Payment Scheme - Fijian Sugar Industry - Australian Soil and Plant Analysis Council - Lime Buffering Capacity - Frontier Transform Infra-Red - Cane Quality Department - Industry Management Group - Ultra violet visible light spectrum - Root Mean Square Error of Cross validation - Southern Oscillation Index - El Niño Southern Oscillation - Smut Technical Committee - Climate and Ocean Support Program for the Pacific - Cost Benefit Analysis I I S N O T A V E R B B A 113 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI GLOSSARY 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Clones / Varieties The distinct individual sugarcane type that can be identified by numerous attributes or a combination of it, such as stalk color, stalk shape, leaf type, etc.
Series When used in the context of plant breeding, it refers to a set of clones or varieties distinguished by the year in which those clones or varieties were initially planted from fuzz (seed) stage.

Germplasm A collection of clones that has recorded desirable traits such as high Fuzz Sugarcane seeds, not to be confused with seeds commonly referred fiber, disease tolerant, etc.

to in the sugar industry as the stalks of sugarcane used for planting.
Seeds in this case are all different varieties, much like seeds of beans, cucumbers or chilies.

Ratoon Commonly referred to the sugarcane crop that established or grew after the initial plant crop was harvested.

Breeding Plots / Small areas planted with sugarcane for the purpose of harvesting Flowering Beds flowers from.

Gene Pool Standards Basically, referring to the Germplasm from a genetics point of view.

Sugarcane varieties that have already been released to growers to plant for commercial use.
Brix Measure of dissolved solids in sugar juice, liquor or syrup using a refractometer.

G X E trials Genetic by Environment trials to test the interaction of the genetic Supply The term is normally used when “supplying” seed cane referring to attributes of varieties against environmental conditions.

Phytotoxic Poisonous to plants.

sugarcane field that have Farmorganix/Stand Up Brand names of new organic fertilizers being tested at SRIF.
SummaGrow Spectra-Cane High-speed fully automated sugarcane analyzer that uses Near- Infrared (NIR) to monitor the sugar content upon analyzing disintegrated cane.

The instrument requires minimal intervention from the operator once the sample has been fed into the disintegrator at the start of the process.
%brix Total soluble solutes in cane juice Polarization (or Pol) The apparent sucrose content expressed as a mass percent measured by the optical rotation of polarized light passing through a %pol Percent total sucrose in cane juice sugar solution.

Y R A S S O L G SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 114 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Fiber The dry fibrous insoluble structure of the cane plant.
Generally taken %fiber Purity to mean all insoluble material in the cane delivered to a mill, and therefore includes soil or other extraneous insoluble matter in cane.

Percent of fiber present in sugarcane The true purity is the sucrose content as a percent of the dry substances or dissolved solids content.

The solids consist of sugar plus non-sucrose components such as invert, ash and colorants.

Apparent purity is expressed as polarization dived by refractometer Brix multiplied by 100.
POCS Pure Obtainable Cane Sugar.

A measure of total recoverable sugar in the cane.

A formula based on assumption that sugarcane contains pure sugar, impurities, water and fiber only.

It assumes that only pure sugar is made, and that for every kilogram of impurities which goes to the factory, half a kilogram of sugar accompanies it.

LBC Lime Buffering Capacity.

It is modified from the original method which is used for the purpose of agricultural crops.
It is a potentiometric method used for determining the amount of lime required for the soil to raise the pH based on the buffering capacity of the soil.

LBC is a more efficient routine determination as compared to pH buffering capacity method in regards to result throughput.

RMSECV RMSECV: errors are calculated on test/train splits using a cross validation scheme for the splitting.
If the splitting of the data is done correctly, this gives a good estimate on how the model built on the data set at hand performs for unknown cases.

However, due to the resampling nature of the approach, it actually measures performance for unknown cases that were obtained among the calibration cases.

In simple, it is a formula used to build a model from a data set, as a validation of two data set.
Thus, confirms data set from a new approach against the data set of the original method validating the performance of the origin of the new data set as similar to the existing method.

The body within the Fiji Sugar Industry Tribunal charged with implementing the QBPS procedures.

A group set up within each mill area, comprising representatives of the mill owner, the cane growers and the Tribunal to act as a point of contact between the CQD and the local industry.
CQD IMG UV-VIS Ultra violet visible light spectrum instrument.

Is used to determine spectrophotometer analyte concentrations by the absorption of light across the ultraviolet and visible light wavelengths through sugar cane juice, sugar and sugar by-products.

The scientific study of nematode worms.
The science of the causes and effects of diseases Nematology Pathology Y R A S S O L G 115 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT FINANCIALS I S L A C N A N F I SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 116 Sugar Research Inst it ut e of Fiji Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2019 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 Contents Director's report…………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………..….……………………………………………..……………………..….
2-3 Independent auditor's report………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………..….……………………………………………..……………………..….

4-6 Statement of activities and other comprehensive income……………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………..….……………………………………………..……………………..….

7 Statement of financial position……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….……………………………………………..……………………..….

8 Statement of cash flows…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….……………………………………………..……………………..….
9 Notes to the financial statements…………………………………………………………………..….……………………………………………..……………………..….
10-20 1 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 In accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors, the Directors herewith submit the statement of financial position of Sugar Research Institute of Fiji ("the Institute") as at 31 December 2019, the related statement of activities and other comprehensive income and statement of cash flows for the year ended on that date and report as follows: Board Directors The Board Directors in office during the year end at the date of this report are: • • • • • • • • Professor Rajesh Chandra - Chairman (Expired - February 2020) Mr Prakash Chand - Chairman (Effective - March 2020) Dr Sanjay Anand Mr Graham Clark Ms Reshmi Kumari Professor Ravendra Naidu Mr Ashween Nischal Ram Mr Raj Sharma State of affairs In the opinion of the Board the accompanying statement of financial position gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Institute as at 31 December 2019 and the accompanying statement of activities and other comprehensive income and the statement of cash flows give a true and fair view of the results, and cashflows of the Institute for the year then ended.
Principal activity The functions of the Institute are outlined under the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji Act No 14 of 2005, which includes promoting by means of research and investigation, the technical advancement, efficiency and productivity of the sugar industry, and to provide its functions, powers, administration and finance and for related matters.
Current assets The Directors took reasonable steps before the Institute's financial statements were made out to ascertain that the current assets of the Institute were shown in the accounting records at a value equal to or below the value that would be expected to be realised in the ordinary course of business.

As at the date of this report, the Director are not aware of any circumstances, which would render the values attributed to current assets in the Institute's financial statements misleading.
Receivables The Directors took reasonable steps before the Institute's financials statements were made out to ascertain that all known bad debts were written off and adequate allowance was made for impairment loss.

At the date of this report, the Directors are not aware of any circumstances which would render the above assessment inadequate extent.

Related party transactions All related party transactions have been adequately recorded in the financial statements.
2 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI Director's REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 Unusual transactions Apart from these matters and other matters specifically referred to in the financial statements, in the opinion of the Director, the results of the operations of the Institute during the financial year were not substantially affected by any item, transaction or event of a material unusual nature, nor has there arisen between the end of the financial year and the date of this report any item, transaction or event of a material unusual nature likely, in the opinion of the Directors, to affect substantially the results of the operations of the Institute in the current financial year, other than those reflected in the financial statements.
Going concern The Institute's ability to continue to operate on a going concern basis is dependent on it receiving ongoing financial support from Government of Fiji, Stakeholders in the Sugar Industry and other Donor Agencies.
The Board Members consider the application of the going concern principle to be appropriate in the preparation of these financial statements as the Institute will continue to receive ongoing support from the Government and the Stakeholders in the Sugar Industry, which will enable the Institute to meet its funding requirements for operations and to meet its obligations as and when they fall due.
The Institute receives funds from the Government, Fiji Sugar Corporation, and Growers through Fiji Sugar Corporation.

Further, the Institute incurred negative cash flows from operations of $474,917 during the year ended 31 December 2019 and positive working capital of $1,463,530 after reclassification of certain related party receivables to non-current assets.
Accordingly, these financial statements have been prepared on going concern basis and do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or to the amounts and classification of labilities that may be necessary should the necessary should the Institute be unable to continue as a going concern.
Events subsequent to balance date Subsequent to end of the financial year, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020.

We have not seen a significant impact on our business to date.

The outbreak and the response of Governments in dealing with the pandemic is interfering with general activity levels within the community, the economy and the operations of our business.
The scale and duration of these developments remain uncertain as at the date of this report however they will have an impact on our earnings, cash flow and financial condition.

It is not possible to estimate the impact of the outbreak’s near-term and longer effects or Governments’ varying efforts to combat the outbreak and support businesses.
This being the case, we do not consider it practicable to provide a quantitative or qualitative estimate of the potential impact of this outbreak on the Company at this time.

The financial statements have been prepared based upon conditions existing at 31 December 2019 and considering those events occurring subsequent to that date, that provide evidence of conditions that existed at the end of the reporting period.
As the outbreak of COVID-19 occurred after 31 December 2019, its impact is considered an event that is indicative of conditions that arose after the reporting period and accordingly, no adjustments have been made to financial statements as at 31 December 2019 for the impacts of COVID-19.
Apart from the exception above, no other matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial year which significantly affected or may significantly affect the operations of the Company, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the Company in future financial years.

For and on behalf of the Board of Directors in accordance with a resolution of the Directors this 1st day of May 2020.
Board Member Board Member 3 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 Contributions and grants Estate income Other income Total income Cost of operations Administrative expenses Deficit from operations Finance income Finance expense Deficit before tax Income tax expense Balance at the beginning of the year Deficit for the year Notes 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.6 2019 $ 2,662,462 357,299 89,113 3,108,874 2018 $ 3,457,237 174,951 137,411 3,769,599 (1,752,999) (1,363,200) (7,325) (2,624,869) (1,161,750) (17,020) 8,148 (823) - 17,739 (719) - - - - - - - The accompanying notes form an integral part of the statement of activities and other comprehensive income.
7 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2019 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents Receivables and prepayments Receivables from related parties Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment Intangible assets Receivables from related parties Total assets Current liabilities Deferred income Trade and other payables Employee benefits Non-current liabilities Deferred income Payable to related parties Total liabilities Net assets Funds employed Funds employed Total funds employed Signed on behalf of the Board.
Notes 3 4 10(b) 5 6 10(b) 8 7 9 8 10(c) 2019 $ 2018 $ - - - - - - _______________________________ Board Member Board Member The accompanying notes form an integral part of the statement of financial position.
8 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 Cash flows from Operating Activities Receipts from stakeholders and donors Payments to suppliers and employees Interest and bank charges paid Interest received Net cash (used in) / provided by operating activities Cash flows used in Investing Activities Acquisition of property, plant and equipment Payment of intangible assets Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment Net cash flows (used in) investing activities Note 2019 $ 2018 $ 2,174,456 (2,656,698) (823) 8,148 (474,917) 4,772,793 (3,379,672) - 17,739 1,410,860 (438,330) (26,361) 21,208 (443,483) (2,341,158) - 29,809 (2,311,349) Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (918,400) (900,489) Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 1,339,941 2,240,430 Cash and cash equivalent at 31 December 3 421,541 1,339,941 The accompanying notes form an integral part of the statement of cash flows.
9 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 1.

Reporting entity The financial statements of Sugar Research Institute of Fiji for the year ended 31 December 2019 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the Directors on 1st May 2020.

Sugar Research Institute of Fiji ("the Institute") is a body corporate domiciled in Fiji, established under the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji Act 2005.
The address of the Institute's registered office is Drasa, Lautoka.

The principal activity of the Institute is described in Note 14.

1.2 Basis of preparation of financial statements (a) The financial statements of the Institute have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium-sized Entities (IFRS for SMEs) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

The financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis except where stated.
(b) Going concern The Institute's ability to continue to operate on a going concern basis is dependent on it receiving ongoing financial support from Government of Fiji, Stakeholders in the Sugar Industry and other Donor Agencies.
The Board Members consider the application of the going concern principle to be appropriate in the preparation of these financial statements as the Institute will continue to receive ongoing support from the Government and the Stakeholders in the Sugar Industry, which will enable the Institute to meet its funding requirements for operations and to meet its obligations as and when they fall due.
The Institute receives funds from the Government, Fiji Sugar Corporation, and Growers through Fiji Sugar Corporation.

Further, the Institute incurred negative cash flows from operations of $474,917 during the year ended 31 December 2019 and positive working capital of $1,463,530 after reclassification of certain related party receivables to non-current assets.
Accordingly, these financial statements have been prepared on going concern basis and do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or to the amounts and classification of labilities that may be necessary should the necessary should the Institute be unable to continue as a going concern.
1.3 Summary of significant accounting policies (a) Foreign currency translation The Institute's financial statements are presented in Fijian dollar, which is also the Institute's functional currency.

Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded by the Institute at the functional currency rates prevailing the date of transaction.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the functional currency of exchange ruling at the reporting date.
Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the currency rates as at the dates of the initial transactions.

Non-monetary items measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value is measured.
(b) Revenue recognition Revenue is recognized to the extend that it is probable that the economic benefit will flow to the entity and the revenue can be reliably measured in accordance with realisation principle, regardless of when the payment is being made.

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received, excluding discounts, rebates, and consumption tax.
The following specific criteria must also be met before revenue is recognised: Contributions and grants Grants are recognised in the statement of financial position initially as deferred income when there is reasonable assurance that it will be received and that the Institute will comply with the conditions associated with the grant.
10 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 1.3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (b) Revenue recognition (continued) It is the recognised in the profit or loss as grant income on a systematic basis as the Institute recognises expenses be achieving the relevant conditions of the grant.

Grants that relate to the acquisition of an asset are recognised in profit or loss as the asset is depreciated or amortised.
The Institute chooses to present grant income on a gross method that is, recognising entire grant income and than offsetting against expense.

Other income Outsource income and other revenue from operating activities are recognised in profit or loss on an accrual basis.

(c) Income tax The Institute is exempt from income tax by virtue of Part 7(2) of the Income Tax (Exempt Income) Regulations 2016.

(d) Financing income Finance income comprises interest received on the term deposits held.
Interest income is recognised as it accrues in profit or loss.

(e) Property, plant and equipment (i) Recognition and measurement Items of property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and/or accumulated impairment losses, if any.

Cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset.
When parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items (major components) of property, plant and equipment.

Any gain or loss on disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment is determined by comparing the proceeds from disposal with carrying amount of the property, plant and equipment, and is recognised net within other income/ other operating expenses in profit or loss.
(ii) Subsequent costs The cost of replacing part of an item of property, plant and equipment is recognised in the carrying amount of the item if it is probable that the future economic benefit embodied within the part will flow to the Institute an its cost can be measured reliably.

The cost of the day-to-day servicing of property, plant and equipment are recognised in profit or loss as incurred.
(iii) Depreciation Depreciation is calculated to write off the costs of the items of property, plant and equipment less their estimated residual values using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, and is recognised in profit and loss.
The estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment for current and comparative periods as follows: The depreciation rates for the current and comparative year is as follows: Asset • • • • • Fixtures and fittings Plant and equipment Motor vehicles Land and building Computers Rate 10 years 6.67-10 years 6.67 years 80 years 5 years Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reassessed at reporting date and adjusted if appropriate.
11 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 1.3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (f) Intangible assets (i) Recognition and measurement Intangible assets that are acquired by the Institute have a finite useful life and are measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.
(ii) Amortisation Intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis in profit or loss over their estimated useful lives, from the date that they are available for use.

The estimated useful life for the current and comparative years is as follows: • Software 5 years (g) Financial instruments (i) Non- derivative financial asset The Institute generally recognises loans and receivable on the date that they are originated.
All other financial assets (including assets designed as at fair value through profit or loss) are recognised initially on the trade date, which is the date that the Institute becomes a third party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
The Institute derecognises a financial asset when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire, or it transfers the rights to receive the contractual cash flows on the financial asset in a transaction in which substantially all the risks and rewards of the ownership of the financial asset are transferred.

Any interest in the transferred financial asset that is created or retained by the Institute is recognised as a separate asset or liability.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount presented in the statement of financial position when and only when the Institute has a legal right to offset the amounts and intends either to offset the amounts and settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
The Institute classifies non- derivative financial assets into the following categories: financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, held to maturity financial assets and loans receivable.

Receivables Receivables are stated at cost less allowances for doubtful debts.

The collectability of debt is assessed at balance date and specific allowance is made for any impairment.

Bad debts are written off in the period they are identified.
Receivables comprise receivables from related party, staff advances and deposits.

Cash and cash equivalents Cash and short-term deposits in the statement of financial position comprise cash at bank and cash on hand.

For the purpose of statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and short- term deposits as defined above, net of outstanding bank overdrafts.
(ii) Non- derivative financial liability Financial liabilities are recognised initially on the trade date at which the Institute becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

The Institute derecognises a financial liability when its contractual obligations are discharged or cancelled or expire.

(ii) Non- derivative financial liability The Institute classifies non-derivative financial liabilities into the other financial liabilities category.
Such financial liabilities are recognised initially at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs.

Subsequent to initial recognition, these financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Other financial liabilities comprise of payable and other accruals.
12 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 1.3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (h) Impairment The carrying amount of assets are renewed at each balance date , to determine whether there is an indication of impairment.

If any such indication exists, the assets recoverable amounts are estimated at each balance date.
An impairment loss is recognised when ever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash generating amount exceeds its recoverable amount.

All impairment losses are recognised in profit or An impairment loss is reversed if more has been charged in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount and is reversed only to the extent that the asset's carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss has been recognised.
(i) Employee benefits (i) Superannuation Obligations for contributions to a defined contribution plan are recognised as an expense in profit or loss when they are due.

(ii) Employee entitlements Liability for annual leave is recognised and measured as the amount unpaid at reporting date at current pay rates in respect of employee services up to that date.
(ii) Short-term benefits Short-term employee benefit obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis and are expensed in profit or loss as the related service provided.

A liability is recognised for the amount to be paid under short-term benefit if the Institute has a present or constructive obligation to pay this amount as a result of past services provided by the employee and the obligations can be measured reliably.
(j) Receivable from related parties The amounts receivable from related parties are recognised when there is a contractual receivable or a right to receive.

(k) Employee benefits Liabilities for wages and salaries expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date are recognised in other payables on the statement of financial position.

(l) Deferred income The Institute's deferred income comprises of cash received or receivable from the stakeholders and donor agencies.
Each grant received or receivable has its specific conditions that the Institute needs to comply with.

The related grant being credited to deferred income as the liability and released to profit or loss over the expected useful economic life.

(m) Unexpended project funds Unutilised donor monies at year end used for cash grant which is received for utilization in more than one financial period is treated as unexpended project funds.

(n) Leases Leases are classified as operating leases.
Rental payable under operating leases are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease.

(o) Value Added Tax (VAT) The Institute complies with VAT under the Second Schedule of the VAT Decree 1991.

(p) Comparative figures When necessary, comparative figures have been adjusted to conform to changes in current presentation year.

13 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 2.
Revenue and expenses 2.1 Contributions and grants Contribution from the Fiji Government European Union Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Sugar Cane Growers 2.2 Other income Gain on sale of fixed assets Outsource income Others 2.3 Cost of operations Advertising Amortisation Bank charges Consultancy fees Depreciation Electricity EU cost Communication expenses Material costs Motor vehicle running expenses Repairs and maintenances Subcontract expenses Wages and salaries 2.4 Administrative expenses Audit fees Audit fees - EU Project Accommodation and meals Annual leave expense Board allowance Cleaning and landscaping Office security Office supplies Director's fees Fiji National Provident Fund contributions Freight Fringe benefit tax General expenses ICT consumables 14 2019 $ 2018 $ 713,161 522,979 713,161 713,161 2,662,462 $ 21,208 65,743 2,162 89,113 $ 4,626 5,272 3,413 26,731 459,502 49,641 102,405 37,449 78,584 124,809 138,984 264,392 457,191 1,752,999 $ 9,000 33,079 6,360 9,532 34,508 3,478 109,333 11,288 62,464 122,665 24,218 13,547 42,330 12,627 594,366 1,674,139 594,366 594,366 3,457,237 $ 29,809 107,322 280 137,411 $ 1,511 496 5,451 21,015 389,023 47,568 1,316,042 26,188 37,484 107,194 108,607 203,295 360,995 2,624,869 $ 9,500 35,060 8,534 13,449 14,959 10,444 52,465 21,774 78,935 105,028 56,942 6,531 13,011 - SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 2.
Revenue and expenses (continued) 2.4 Administrative expenses (continued) Insurance Legal fees Land rent Medical expense Media and publication Other expenses Postage Repair and maintenance Rent expense Staff expenses Stationery Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji Travel Utilities Wages and salaries 2.5 Personnel expenses Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) contributions Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji Key management compensation - short term benefit Wages and salaries 2.6 Finance income Interest received 3.
Cash and cash equivalents Cash at bank Cash on hand Cash and cash equivalents in the cash flow statements 2019 $ 53,955 1,742 7,817 6,394 9,656 - 1,153 6,081 35,385 17,381 5,642 11,854 17,846 8,078 685,787 1,363,200 $ 122,665 11,854 98,980 1,043,998 1,277,497 8,148 $ $ 421,041 500 421,541 2018 $ 46,443 183 12,419 6,086 17,753 10,603 623 39,867 16,372 12,736 5,155 8,773 7,026 9,587 541,492 1,161,750 $ 105,028 8,773 99,326 803,161 1,016,288 $ 17,739 $ 1,339,889 52 1,339,941 Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and balances with banks.
Cash and cash equivalents included in the statement of cash flows comprise of the following statement of financial positions amounts: Cash at bank and on hand 4.
Receivables Trade receivable Staff advance Deposits VAT receivable Interest receivable Prepayments Withholding tax receivable 15 $ 421,541 421,541 $ 20,322 378 4,506 140,116 6,609 5,500 16,921 194,352 $ 1,339,941 1,339,941 $ 14,046 1,327 4,506 178,222 6,609 - - 204,710 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 5.
Property, plant and equipment Cost As at 1 January 2018 Additions Disposals At 31 December 2018 Additions Transfers Disposals At 31 December 2019 Land and Buildings 2,856,987 - - 2,856,987 152,674 1,234,915 - Fixtures and Fittings 140,120 22,199 - 162,319 18,459 - - Plant and Equipment 2,229,633 703,545 - 2,933,178 18,308 - - Motor Vehicles Computers 1,320,661 317,459 (53,633) 364,857 63,040 - 1,584,487 229,742 - (96,569) 427,897 19,147 - - 4,244,576 180,778 2,951,486 1,717,660 447,044 Work in progress - 1,234,915 - 1,234,915 - (1,234,915) - - Total 6,912,258 2,341,158 (53,633) 9,199,783 438,330 - (96,569) 9,541,544 Accumulated depreciation As at 1 January 2018 Depreciation charge for the Disposals At 31 December 2018 Depreciation charge for the Disposals At 31 December 2019 Net book value At 31 December 2019 At 31 December 2018 196,042 31,875 - 227,917 32,296 - 260,213 51,982 13,706 - 65,688 15,630 - 81,318 1,187,088 236,003 - 1,423,091 270,121 - 1,693,212 1,142,462 76,768 (53,633) 1,165,597 108,060 (96,569) 1,177,088 307,566 30,671 - 338,237 33,394 - - - - - - - 371,631 - 2,885,140 389,023 (53,633) 3,220,530 459,501 (96,569) 3,583,462 3,984,363 2,629,070 99,460 96,631 1,258,274 1,510,087 540,572 418,890 75,413 89,660 - 1,234,915 5,958,082 5,979,253 16 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 6.
Intangible assets Cost As at 1 January 2018 Additions Disposals At 31 December 2018 Additions Disposals At 31 December 2019 Accumulated depreciation As at 1 January 2018 Amortisation At 31 December 2018 Amortisation At 31 December 2019 Net book value At 31 December 2019 At 31 December 2018 7.

Trade and other payables Trade creditors Payables and accruals 8.
Deferred income Software $ 2,480 - - 2,480 26,361 - Total $ 2,480 - - 2,480 26,361 - 28,841 28,841 27 496 523 5,272 5,795 27 496 523 5,272 5,795 23,046 1,957 23,046 1,957 2019 $ 13,377 76,436 89,813 2018 $ 42,010 72,965 114,975 The Institute's deferred income comprises cash received or receivable from the stakeholders and donor agencies.

Each grant income received or receivable has its specific conditions that the Institute needs to comply with.
The movement in deferred income is as follows: Balance at the beginning of the year Funds received or receivable during the period Utilised during the period Balance at 31 December This is comprised as follows: Fiji Government Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Sugar Cane Growers European Union grant Estate income Insurance income Other income Total 17 $ 12,458,893 2,778,811 (3,117,021) 12,120,683 $ 11,144,379 5,101,854 (3,787,340) 12,458,893 $ 39,031 7,020,857 2,700,000 2,202,291 160,895 - (2,391) 12,120,683 $ 67,732 6,399,043 2,700,000 2,834,061 248,515 1,759 207,783 12,458,893 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 8.
Deferred income (continued) Disclosed as: Current Non-current Total 9.

Employee benefits Balance at 1 January Provision created / utilised during the year Balance at 31 December 10.
Related parties 2019 $ 2018 $ 421,541 11,699,142 12,120,683 525,789 11,933,104 12,458,893 $ 32,165 9,532 41,697 $ 18,716 13,449 32,165 Related parties of the Institute include key stakeholders in the Fiji Sugar Industry, namely, the Government of Fiji, Fiji Sugar Corporation, South Pacific Fertilizers Limited, Sugar Cane Growers Fund and Sugar Cane Growers Council.
Transactions with these parties and outstanding balances at year end are disclosed below: (a) Board members The names of the Directors at any time during the financial year as follows: • • • • • • • • Professor Rajesh Chandra - Chairman (Expired - February 2020) Mr Prakash Chand - Chairman (Effective - March 2020) Dr Sanjay Anand Mr Graham Clark Ms Reshmi Kumari Professor Ravendra Naidu Mr Ashween Nischal Ram Mr Raj Sharma (b) Amounts receivable from related parties Fiji Sugar Corporation - grant income - other income Sugar Cane Growers Allowance for uncollectability - Sugar Cane Growers Disclosed as: Current Non-current Total $ $ 6,999,999 20,858 2,700,000 (1,800,000) 7,920,857 6,424,999 20,858 2,700,000 (1,800,000) 7,345,857 $ 1,400,688 6,520,169 7,920,857 $ 1,123,853 6,222,004 7,345,857 18 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 10.
Related parties (continued) (b) Amounts receivable from related parties (continued) Reconciliation of Allowance for Uncollectability Balance at the beginning of the year Provision created during the year Balance at the end of the year 2019 $ 1,800,000 - 1,800,000 2018 $ 1,800,000 - 1,800,000 Receivables from related parties are interest free and receivables as and when required.
(c) Amounts payable to related parties Fiji Sugar Corporation $ $ 2,265,685 2,265,685 (d) Outstanding debts owed from Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited Net receivable from Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited ("FSC") amounts to $4,734,314 as at 31 December 2019.

On 26 February 2019, a Deed of payment was signed between the Institute and FSC.
FSC agreed and acknowledged that it owed a sum amounting to $4,009,314 as at 31 October 2018 to the Institute which was FSC's contribution towards SRIF's operations as per Section 11(2) of the Sugar Research Institute Act 2005.

The amount stipulated in the agreement is $4,009,314 which is the amount as at 31 October 2018.
The net receivable amount as at 31 December 2019 is $4,734,314 and is reconciled as follows: Balance at 31 December 2018 Contributions during the year Payments made in 2019 Balance at 31 December 2019 The payment terms were agreed as follow: $ 4,159,314 900,000 (325,000) 4,734,314 (i) (ii) The amount of $250,000 will be paid by FSC in 2019, with 2 equal instalments of $125,000 each payable on 30 August and 31 December respectively; The remaining balance of $3,759,314 will be payable by FSC over the next 4 years (2020-2023) in 8 equal instalments of $469,914 payable on 30 August and 31 December each year; (iii) the repayments will be at zero interest rate.
(e) Transactions with related parties $ $ Deferred income Grant income - Fiji Sugar Corporation Grant income - Fiji Government Grant income - Sugar Cane Growers Estate income- Fiji Sugar Corporation 298,165 716,287 825,688 269,679 2,109,819 681,193 825,688 825,688 292,633 2,625,202 19 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 10.
Related parties (continued) (f) Key management personnel Key management personnel include the Chief Executive Officer and Finance Administration Manager of the Institute.

Transactions with the key management personnel are no favourable than those available, or which might be reasonably be expected to be available, on similar transactions to third parties on an arm's length.

Key management compensation is disclosed under Note 2.5.

11.
11.

Commitments and contingencies Contingent liability - $nil (2018:$nil) (i) (ii) Capital expenditure commitments - $nil (2018:$nil) (iii) Finance lease commitments - $nil (2018:$nil) (iv) Operating lease commitments - $nil (2018:$nil) 12.

Subsequent events Subsequent to end of the financial year, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020.

We have not seen a significant impact on our business to date.
The outbreak and the response of Governments in dealing with the pandemic is interfering with general activity levels within the community, the economy and the operations of our business.

The scale and duration of these developments remain uncertain as at the date of this report however they will have an impact on our earnings, cash flow and financial condition.
It is not possible to estimate the impact of the outbreak’s near-term and longer effects or Governments’ varying efforts to combat the outbreak and support businesses.

This being the case, we do not consider it practicable to provide a quantitative or qualitative estimate of the potential impact of this outbreak on the Company at this time.
The financial statements have been prepared based upon conditions existing at 31 December 2019 and considering those events occurring subsequent to that date, that provide evidence of conditions that existed at the end of the reporting period.
As the outbreak of COVID-19 occurred after 31 December 2019, its impact is considered an event that is indicative of conditions that arose after the reporting period and accordingly, no adjustments have been made to financial statements as at 31 December 2019 for the impacts of COVID-19.
Apart from the exception above, no other matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial year which significantly affected or may significantly affect the operations of the Company, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the Company in future financial years.

13.

Segment Information Industry segment The Institute operates predominantly in the sugar industry.
Geographical segment The Institute operates predominantly in Fiji and is therefore one geographical area for reporting purposes.

14.

Principal business activity The functions of the Institute are outlined under the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji Act No 14 of 2005, which includes promoting by means of research and investigation, the technical advancement, efficiency and productivity of the sugar industry, and to provide its functions, powers, administration and finance and for related matters.
Number of employees As at balance date, the Institute employed a total of 82 employees (2018: 69).

20 2019 ANNUAL REPORT I S L A C N A N F I 117 SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 2019 ANNUAL REPORT © Sugar Research Institute of Fiji, 2019 P. O.
Box 3560, Lautoka | Ph: +679 8921839 & +679 8921840 | Email: info@srif.org.fj Website: www.srif.net.fj | Rarawai (Ba) Office: +679 8907343 Wairuku (Rakiraki) Office: +679 8907344 | Batinikama (Labasa) Office: +679 8907345 I S L A C N A N F I SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FIJI 118