The economic viability of the North hinges on the sugar cane industry’s existence, says Minister for Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh.

Mr Singh said the industry had a vital role in sustaining the economic health of the region.

He told cane farmers at the Sugar Cane Growers Fund office yesterday other alternatives were scarce for the North.

“We don’t have any other alternative than pine or fishing,” the minister said.

He said they were trying to boost farmers’ confidence in the industry with the grants and assistance handed out to them recently.

“Hopefully, farmers will get to plant more cane with this assistance,” Mr Singh added.

He said Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had given him the task of reviving the industry.

“We used to produce 1.2 million tonnes of cane, but today we are doing less.”

Mr Singh added there was a need for the Government and community to sustain the industry’s growth.