In a bid to promote cane planting and alleviate the financial strain of fresh planting, Government has increased cane planting grant for a hectare from $1500 to $1875.
Minister for Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs Charan Jeath Singh said this in Parliament on Monday.
The 25 per cent increase is expected to boost farmers’ confidence in the industry and increase yield.
The minister said this was the highest cane planting grant available per hectare in the history of the sugarcane industry.
“We have listened to the farmers and increased this grant to mitigate the general rising costs.”
Meanwhile, the ministry has introduced an application of lime with allocation of $425 per hectare, on top of the increase in grant for land preparation and cane planting.
Mr Singh said this aimed to assist farmers mitigate the deteriorating condition of the soil that had become acidic.
He added an allocation of $5.5 million was specifically earmarked for the enhancement of drainage systems, with full funding sourced from grants.
