FINANCE Minister Esrom Immanuel says there is a need to restructure the future of the sugarcane industry.
Speaking at the national budget consultations in Ba this week, Mr Immanuel said he recently had a meeting with sugarcane stakeholders to discuss plans on keeping the industry alive.
He said a recommendation that came from the meeting was to close the Lautoka Mill and focus on farming sugar cane in Ba and Tavua areas.
“It was a long meeting and what we had asked them was what we can do to improve the sugar industry as a whole,” he said.
“To improve sugar profitability, improve production, and improve sugar output to both the farmers as well as FSC and government.
“Currently, government is probably footing most of the needs in the sugar industry to keep it alive. At one point in time, in the future, we need to restructure it, we concentrate on sugar in a few towns and cities and then look at ways to further improve the mill as well.”
Mr Immanuel said the stakeholders suggested that the sugarcane farms in Lautoka was mainly on the roadside and were being used for commercial farming and industrial, residential developments.
“So, one important point that was recommended is to concentrate on the mill in Ba, you can close-off the Lautoka Mill and concentrate on milling and farming around the Ba and Tavua areas.
“That is why they reckon that moving the sugar away from Lautoka to Ba would be an ideal solution.”
