Sugar Cane Growers Fund (SCGF) CEO Raj Sharma says “nobody is talking about” the alternative livelihood plan for sugarcane farmers announced in the 2021-2022 Budget which has been allocated $1 million.
He said this was the most important point raised in the budget on the outlook of the sugar industry.
“It is good to note that $1 million has been considered for this sort of project,” he said.
“A roadmap for the industry needs to be done together with the welfare of the farmers and all those that depend.
“There are various opportunities in agricultural sectors for anyone to venture into, when other sectors are not doing good.
“We invite all those investors, those in MSMEs and even our sugarcane farmers to see other supportive crops that have markets in Fiji as import substitute such as rice, livestock and other commodities that could be exported.”
The SCGF expressed their pleasure that the budget “would ease their (farmers) commitment.”
