Fijian sugar to compete in world market next year
As the European Union Preferential Agreement comes to an end this month, the Fijian sugar industry will be competing in the world market for potential markets.
The Permanent Secretary for Sugar, Yogesh Karan said for this the quality of sugar and molasses needed to be good and this Fiji has.
However, Mr Karan said the concern was that Fiji did not have a very large quantity of sugar as compared to other countries like India, Brazil and Africa which produced surplus.
“Our yield is pretty low as compared to these countries because our industry is pretty much outdated,” Mr Karan said. He said it was unfortunate that during the good days of Sugar Corporation, initiatives were not taken to develop the mills and this was now posing challenge.
Now, the Ministry has requested the intervention of the Sugar Research Institute to assist the farmers and see best ways how Fiji can move from traditional methods to modern farming.
He said the focus was on modern irrigation. Mr Karan in addition said the Ministry of Waterways will be working with the sugar industry to assure that the water system, drains; canals were cleaned and organised so that there was a good water supply.
On the other hand, the 52nd Session of the International Sugar Organisation Council in London has gained Fiji support from the European Union, United Kingdom and other countries for the Fijian sugar. But Mr Karan said the Fijian sugar needed to be branded better.
Sugar forecast next year
The sugarcane industry has shown drastic improvement as compared to past years says Mr Karan.
And while the cane yield target of 1.63 million ton was a close reach to the 1.8 million ton target set aside for the crushing season, next year was looking even better with favourable weather conditions.
“Next season we are really hopeful because we have a very good rainfall this time and I have been considering the statistics, the use of fertiliser its more than double as per the last season so we are expecting a very good crop next year,” Mr Karan said. The cane planting season is now in progress.