Review for sugar industry

GOVERNMENT will commence a comprehensive study of Fiji’s sugar industry that will specifically look at six key areas, and reveal tender documents now available publicly.

The areas that will be reviewed include sugarcane production and innovation in research, milling and sugar production, institutional and legislation review, infrastructure improvement, harvesting and transport, environment, climate change and resilience and expansion of operations that includes the set up of a new sugar factory, sugar refinery, ethanol plant and expanding co-generation capacity.

“The Fijian Government is committed to reviving and sustaining its sugar industry to support rural livelihood,” states the tender document.

The document states assistance has been provided to farmers through grants and subsidies to reduce farm inputs costs, enhance cane planting, upgrade infrastructure, support new farmers to establish farms, incentives for production, and manual labour subsidy including guaranteeing cane payments.

“Despite all these supports, production has not increased as projected.”

“Hence, there is a need to conduct a comprehensive study of Fiji’s sugar industry to identify gaps and develop a strategy for the long-term viability of the industry.

“The strategies will respond to challenges affecting the sugar industry, including addressing the decline in sugarcane and sugar production, transportation, harvesting and milling, marketing, research & development, capacity gaps, cross-cutting issues, exploring the feasibility of projects on the set-up of the sugar refinery, expanding cogeneration capacity, the establishment of a new sugar factory.”

The document reveals the consultant will explore the possibilities regarding the setting up of a new sugar factory in Rakiraki, the setup of an ethanol plant in Rakiraki, the setup of a sugar refinery in Labasa, and conduct cost-benefit analysis of the new projects.