THERE are parts of the Sugar Master Award that need to be reviewed, says Sugar Cane Growers Council CEO Sundresh Chetty.
However, he stressed that any update on legislation needed consultation with farmers.
“During our consultations last year, we found that certain parts of the award need to be revisited and reviewed,” Mr Chetty said.
“In saying that, it is critically important we have widespread consultations with growers and that we also have their mandate as well.”
As key sugarcane industry stakeholders prepare for a meeting next month to map out the agenda for growers’ awareness campaigns this year, Mr Chetty said growers’ views were vital prior to any change being made.
National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry said as the largest stakeholder in the sugarcane industry, growers needed proper representation and had to be taken seriously for any real progress to be made.
“The fact of the matter remains that growers do not have a voice in an industry that they have the biggest stake in and this has got to change,” Mr Chaudhry said.
Fiji Sugar Corporation executive chairman Abdul Khan said informal discussions had been held on a review of the Sugar Master Award.
However, Mr Khan said nothing concrete had been established as yet.
