LANDS Minister Ashneel Sudhakar opened the National Sugar Industry Policy consultation in Lautoka today by calling on growers to speak openly about how the industry could be improved.
He said cane production had decreased from more than four million tonnes in the past to 1.7million tonnes over the past few years – and the industry was plagued with chronic issues like labour shortage, milling inefficiencies and transport problems.
Mr Sudhakar said farmers had intimate knowledge of the industry and any information shared at the consultation would assist in the formulation of a national policy to take the industry forward.
