Boosting interest in sugarcane farming is a challenge that organisers of the FMF Ba Farmers Carnival has taken on as they prepare for the return of the festival after three years.

The week-long carnival that will open at the Gujrati Grounds from September 23 will focus on generating interest for an industry that has been waning for several years.

Ba Farmers Carnival committee chairperson Anjila Chandra said the theme of the festival would be “To Rejuvenate Farmers”.

“The theme reflects what we want to do this year, which is to give farmers a new lease on life,” said Mrs Chandra.

“We want to generate more interest in sugar cane farming because we all know about the issues that the industry is facing.

“They have issues with land leases and the cost of harvesting and growing sugar cane is not like what it used to be. “Most of them have left farming and are now living in squatter settlements. They have left their farms and their houses to live in settlements.

“That is the reality on the ground right now so we wanted to bring back interest into sugar cane farming.”

Mrs Chandra said they were also fortunate to have received a financial boost by their major sponsor for this year, Flour Mills of Fiji.

“They have been very kind to us and have been very supportive of the committee to bring back the Farmers Carnival to Ba.

“We are truly grateful that they agreed to come onboard to be our major sponsor for this year’s festival.”

She said the list of contestants had also been finalised.

“We have a good group of contestants this year that will be representing the seven sectors in Ba.

“Everyone is looking forward to the start of the carnival and we hope that the people especially our sugarcane growers to come out in numbers and be part of their carnival.

“This is for them.”