Sugar Industry Minister Charan Jeath Singh says the Government is committed to setting up a new sugar mill in Rakiraki.
During a press conference last Friday, Mr Singh said they would engage a Thai company to conduct a feasibility study regarding the project.
“We already know the size of the mill that we want to have there,” he said.
“Based on the production of cane from Rakiraki to Tavua, the last mill was crushing over 2500 tonnes per hour,” he said.
“We’ll probably have the same size mill because the production may be around that quantum.”
Mr Singh also added the whole process would be transparent, and that they had discussed their mill setup in various countries, but the most appropriate and the best company identified was from Thailand.
“We’re going to invite them to do a feasibility study. Of course, then there’ll be an open public tender thereafter, but at least with someone that will give us some firm information, we’ll know where the benchmark is, or what to expect.”
Mr Singh said even as the number of active farmers in Rakiraki had dropped from 300 to 125, there were more potential farmers who wanted to come back and farm.
“I’m pretty sure that we can attract not only 300 previous (farmers), but we could also attract more with a lot of land which is idle. And a lot of potential farmers have started showing interest ever since we’ve been paying a good price sugarcane price.”
When asked if the payout of $91.38 per tonne would increase this year, Mr Singh said he couldn’t confirm any figures at this stage, however, farmers could expect more in the upcoming season.
