ALL Government funding to sugar sector institutions and growers is accounted for, but the lack of results remains a concern, Sugar Cane Growers Fund chief executive Raj Sharma says.
Mr Sharma was responding to comments by Finance permanent secretary Shiri Gounder that the industry was beyond revival and questioned why taxpayers should continue injecting money into a struggling sector.
“The problem we see is ownership of funding and how it is used by institutions and growers, with no results,” Mr Sharma said.
He said social, economic and emotional factors must be considered when determining the industry’s future.
“Our view is to right-size the industry progressively, make it sustainable and complement it with diversification.”
Mr Sharma said diversification should focus on two areas — farm production to reduce imports and opportunities to develop products for export.
“For that, we need infrastructure, markets, finance, extension services and guidance for farmers through a transition approach.
“The second part is, if adequate sugarcane production is happening, to look at diversification of sugar products.”
He said a survey was needed to determine how many growers wanted to continue sugarcane farming and how many people living in urban areas wished to return to farming.
Mr Sharma said returning farmers should be supported through packages that would allow them to establish farms and eventually move out of settlements.
