THE Select Committee on Economic Affairs is concerned with the decline in sugar cane production, despite the availability of funds from the Sugar Cane Growers Fund and assistance from the Sugar Ministry to support the efforts of Fiji Sugar Corporation.
In its review report of the SCGF annual reports for 2019 and 2020, the committee said increasing production required cohesive coordination and collaboration among relevant key agencies.
“The urgency of developing a comprehensive sugar policy for the industry is critical to ensure industry stakeholders such as SCGF are better informed of the future strategy and policy direction for the sugar industry,” said the committee.
“The committee notes that to increase production requires strong coordination and collaboration among relevant key agencies.”
The committee lists these agencies as the Sugar Ministry, FSC, the Sugar Cane Growers Fund, Sugar Cane Growers Council, Agriculture Ministry, Forestry Ministry, Sugar Research Institute of Fiji and the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB).
“The committee is concerned by the duplication of roles among several subsidiary bodies in the sugar industry that currently oversee the operations. These bodies, include the Sugar Cane Growers Fund, Sugar Cane Growers Council, SRIF, Sugar Cane Tribunal, FSC and others.”
