Government has introduced six new programs for canefarmers to boost production.
Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh said this was part of the Coalition Government’s commitment to improving sugarcane productivity at the farm level to increase overall production in the coming years.
“To execute this, we have introduced six new capital programs in the 2023/2024 budget allocation for the farmers. These are: small grant scheme, farm mechanisation, cage bins, in-field drainage for sugarcane farms, farmers incentive program and manual harvesting support program,” he said.
“The sugar industry is here to stay and grow bigger and bigger in the coming years.
“One of the mandates for this Government under the leadership of our Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is to resuscitate the industry as thousands of Fijians are fully reliant on it for their livelihood.”
Mr Singh said expiry of land leases had also contributed to the fall in production as farmers vacated their farms. This issue, he added, would be addressed as a taskforce has been formed to address the land lease issue, renewal, and premium issues concerning canefarmers.
“Government is fully committed towards this industry and there will be exciting times ahead for the farmers and the industry as a whole,” he said.
“We have always remained committed to assisting all farmers with various types of programs and I encourage the farmers to use Government grants to expand and increase production.”
Mr Singh said his ministry has sustained the ongoing projects for farmers and this included sugarcane development and farmers assistance (Cane Planting Grant), cane access road, cane cartage, sugar stabilisation fund, fertiliser subsidy, weedicide subsidy and new farmer and lease premium assistance.
“Farmers can access these grants through their sector offices or from the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry office in Lautoka,” Mr Singh said.
