THE future of the sugar industry is hanging by a thread, says Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry.
Mr Chaudhry claimed that inaction on the part of the government was driving the industry to the brink of collapse.
“Farmers are being crushed under the weight of expiring land leases and sky-high premiums,” he said.
In 2024, he said, Fiji’s cane crop hit an all-time low of just 1.3 million tonnes, the worst in history.
“This is the lowest crop ever. Even Cyclone Winston didn’t cause this kind of devastation.
“The results speak for themselves. The sugar industry is dying.”
Attempts to get comments from the Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh remained futile when this edition went to print.
Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad said in two years, they had implemented more support for sugar farmers than Chaudhry ever did.
“We’ve introduced funds for cane planting and subsidies for fertilisers.”
Prof Prasad said Mr Chaudhry had turned a blind eye to the progress they had made.
“This government is focused on supporting farmers, and we’ll continue to do so.”
