Annual reports tabled by the Ministry of Sugar Industry for FY2016-2020 lacked essential data during the period under review.
Standing Committee on Economic Affairs chairperson Sakiusa Tubuna said this in Parliament this week as they tabled the Consolidated Review Report of the Ministry of Sugar Industry 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 annual reports.
He said the committee had conducted a site visit to the Western and Northern divisions late last year and earlier this year to gain a better understanding of the current practices of the sugar industry.
Apart from this, Mr Tubuna said, the committee also heard submissions from officials of the ministry.
“The committee was made aware of the various challenges the ministry has been facing, which include acute shortage of labour, aging infrastructure and abandonment of farms amongst many other reasons,” he said.
“The committee noted that the annual reports presented by the ministry lacked essential data during the period under review, which would enable the committee to make more informed recommendations.”
He said the committee also noted that various programs were introduced by the ministry to assist sugarcane farmers such as sugarcane development and farmers assistance, weedicide and fertiliser subsidy, cane access roads, mechanical harvesters, grants to new farmers and cane cartage grant.
