Outgoing Minister for the Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh has highlighted major achievements during his three-year tenure, pointing to record cane payments, renewed stakeholder confidence and steady progress towards the long-term recovery of Fiji’s sugar industry.
In his address at a grant hand-out function in Lautoka yesterday, Singh said the period marked the delivery of the three highest cane payments in Fiji’s history, a milestone he attributed to stronger coordination, government support and the resilience of farmers.
“These outcomes did not happen by chance,” Singh said.
“They are the result of improved coordination, strong government support, and above all, the resilience and hard work of our farmers.”
He said the Government deliberately shifted the industry’s direction away from blame and short-term fixes, towards partnership, long-term planning and shared responsibility.
“We moved from fragmented decision-making to collective responsibility,” Singh said, noting that the changes helped restore unity, transparency and accountability across the sector.
Singh also highlighted progress towards the Government’s target of increasing cane production by 200,000 tonnes annually, supported by investments in mill performance, logistics, governance reforms and on-the-ground support for growers.
According to the outgoing minister, these efforts were aimed at strengthening the foundations of the industry rather than pursuing quick but unsustainable solutions.
“Importantly, this Government has been clear from the start — we are not in the business of shutting down sugar communities; we are in the business of rebuilding them,” Singh said.
He acknowledged the challenges still facing the industry but expressed confidence that the reforms and partnerships established over the past three years have positioned the sector on a more sustainable path.
