Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will lead a two-day consultation tour of Fiji’s cane belt from today as the Parliaments’ Special Committee on the Sugar Industry meets with farmers, industry stakeholders and key government agencies to discuss the future of the sector.
The consultations, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry, will take place on today and tomorrow in Rakiraki, Ba, Lautoka and Lomawai.
The committee will begin its tour in Rakiraki this morning.
The delegation will then travel to Ba for a tour of the Rarawai Sugar Mill and later meet farmers from the Ba mill area at the Ba Civic Centre.
On Thursday, the committee will meet sugar industry institutions and stakeholders at the FSC Training Centre in Lautoka, followed by consultations with sugarcane farmers and a tour of the Lautoka Sugar Mill.
The final consultation will be held with farmers in Lomawai before the delegation returns to Suva.
The Special Committee on the Sugar Industry is chaired by Prime Minister Rabuka. Its members include Professor Biman Prasad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka, Manoa Kamikamica, Minister for Sugar Tomasi Tunabuna, Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua, Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu and a representative nominated by the Leader of the Opposition.
The consultation tour is expected to provide farmers and industry stakeholders with an opportunity to raise concerns and contribute ideas aimed at strengthening Fiji’s sugar industry.
