IN 1992 the Sugar Cane Growers Council planned to carry out a feasibility study into moving its operations to the Western Division.
An article published by The Fiji Times on October 10 that year, reported the council board had met in Lautoka on October 9 and approved a paper on the study which was presented by its chief executive Grish Maharaj.
The study was to look into the costs involved and accessibility to government and other sugar organisation during the relocation.
Mr Maharaj said the study would also help in determining how the relocation would help communication between farmers and the council and its offices.
The council was unlikely to move to the West until March 1993 when it hoped to have completed Master Award variances.
A detailed paper was to be presented to the board once the study was completed.
The council office at the time was housed in Dominion House, Suva.
The building also housed the offices of Fiji Sugar Corporation, Sugar Commission of Fiji, Sugar Industry Tribunal and Fiji Sugar Marketing Ltd.
Meanwhile, the board had named a six-member team to represent the council during Master Award negotiations with the Fiji Sugar Council in November.
It included Mr Maharaj, council chairman Girja Prasad, vice-chairman Shree Chand Badlu and Marika Salimalibu, secretary Jayan Prakash and Lautoka director Uday Karan.
Other councillors were to be incorporated during the negotiations.
Mr Maharaj was to have held meetings in the Western Division the week to allow farmers to present their views on the Master Award.
Submissions were to be received in all three languages, orally and in writing.
The council board had also expressed concern about the effect of drought on sugar cane yield.
Council Sigatoka director Rana Pratap told the board that farmers had been affected financially and were having difficulties servicing their debt repayment to the bank.
Mr Pratap said commercial banks in Sigatoka were issuing notices to farmers.
The board asked Mr Maharaj to explore ways of helping the affected farmers.
It also called on the government to introduce a long-term plan to help farmers during such cases.
The board had also authorised Mr Maharaj to write to the South Pacific Fertilizer Company and request it stagger repayments by farmers. Mr Maharaj said farmers had found it difficult to pay for fertilizer in one installment.
“The SPF will be asked to take money from farmers in installments and ease their financial burdens.”
The board was attended by all 11 members including Mr Maharaj and Mr Prakash.
