Farmers to be subsidised on land premium payments: Singh
Assurance has been given to sugarcane farmers that land premiums being paid to the Itaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) will be subsidised.
Minister for Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Charan Jeath Singh, said they are aware of the current financial struggles farmers faced to
pay premiums.
Mr Singh made these comments while addressing farmers and people in Labasa, during his visit to the friendly town this week.
“We will try to ensure that farmers do not pay too much on premiums so that they can earn a fair share of their hard labour,” he said. Mr Singh said they would work on a calculation formula to ensure an effective balance in subsidised
premiums is reached between the landowners and the farmers.
Farmers encouraged to engage substitute farming
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Sugarcane farmers around various harvesting sectors in the country have been encouraged to allocate a reasonable land area (at least 1.5 acres) to engage in substitute farming options.
Mr Singh said farmers should remain
committed to enhancing their sugarcane production and ensure the productivity and sustainability of their farmers, despite engaging in substitute farming.
He said through substitute farming initiatives, farmers had a chance to earn extra cash and help in their income generation, while they waited for their cane payments.
Incentivising farmers for green cane
Farmers were advised to supply more green cane crops to the mills, which Mr Singh is considering to provide some incentives for farmers.
Mr Singh added green cane was the best cane to be processed for quality sugar.