Ramu eyes sugar production boost

**The first harvest of sugarcane placed on the conveyor belt for crushing.**

By JACINTA COHLEE
PAPUA New Guinea’s Ramu Sugar Industry Limited (Rail) is addressing problems which led to years of low production.
This was revealed during Rail’s 41st harvest anniversary on Monday at Gusap in Ramu, Madang, by acting general manager Eric Wise.
He said RAIL produced about 21,000 tonnes of sugar in 2022, but it hoped to produce about 25,000 tonnes of sugar this year.

**Ramu Agri Industry Limited staff members witnessing the first tipping of sugar cane by long-serving worker James Manase on Tuesday at Gusap in Ramu, Madang. – Nationalpics by JACINTA COHLEE**

“The consumption in PNG is about 50,000 tonnes of produced sugar of which Rail has been producing half of the tonnes,” Wise said. He blamed the below-expectation production to cane fires, pest incursions, and poor weed management.
They affected the low production of sugar, leading to the failure to meet domestic market demand. Sugar agriculture manager Samuel Jayakumar said the company managed to address the problems.
“We’ve bought the latest technology and equipment from Australia to take care of the weed management. Our staff are working on it,” he said.

**Ramu Agri Industry Limited workers packing sugar.**

“There have been no fires lately. We’ve appointed fire teams. We use the villagers and pay them to guard the areas. The company is harvesting from its 7,000 hectares of sugar cane land – 80 per cent is for production and 20 per cent is for growers.
The company helps the locals to plant sugar cane and they look after the cane fields in return.”