New Access Roads Bring Hope to Sugarcane Farming Communities
The rehabilitation of roads and drainage is an important element in the EU’s ongoing support to the sugar sector in Fiji.
Over 30,000 people, including 2,000 sugarcane farmers in Fiji’s cane belt will now benefit from upgraded road and drainage works in the cane-farming areas of Koronubu, Drasa and Malolo, thanks to the European Union (EU) funded Rural Access Roads and Associated Infrastructure (RARAI) project. The project, which is being implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC), has just released a 15-minute film entitled “Cane Access Roads – Pathways of Hope,” which documents the work of the RARAI project and shares stories from beneficiaries and partners on its impacts in Malolo, Drasa and Koronubu. “The rehabilitation of roads and drainage is an important element in the EU’s ongoing support to the sugar sector in Fiji.
About 7,000 households have benefitted from the RARAI project, which translates to about 30,000 people overall.
Farmers can use the road to transport sugar, but it will also be important for them to access markets for other products and will be beneficial for education, health and other community purposes,” said Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation for the Pacific.
“SPC is proud to partner with the EU and the Fiji Government in this undertaking,” SPC Director General, Dr Colin Tukuitonga said.
“We’re very pleased to have been able to contribute to the RARAI project in improving the lives and livelihoods of cane farmers and related communities and improving transport of cane.
In Malolo, we expect to improve transportation for 65 per cent of cane produced, in Drasa 90 per cent and in Koronubu, 80 per cent. These are significant improvements for local communities.” The RARAI project is working closely with the Fiji Sugar Corporation, Ministry of Sugar Industry and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in trying to address transportation challenges for farmers in Fiji’s sugarcane belt.