Government continues to assist sugar industry: PM
THE Fijian Government has continued to provide higher levels of support to cane growers, than at any point in Fijian history.
This was relayed by the Prime Minister and Minister for Sugar Industry, Voreqe Bainimarama, during the Parliament sitting last week, where he highlighted that the cane growers have always been assisted in their need, particularly in the area of climate change.
“We have assisted with fertiliser and weedicide subsidies, cane top-up payments, cane-cartage transportation payments, cost for Penang Mill area growers and assistance with the renewal of leases through top-up payments to landowners,” he said.
“This includes upgrading of cane access roads covering one-third of the cost of purchases for the mechanisation of cane harvesting with the purchase of cane lorries and incentives for new growers to enter the industry and for growers to boost cane production.”
“From 1st April, 2022, the price of fertiliser has gone up in access of $80 per bag, yet the Government has continued to subsidise the entire difference of that increase so that growers still pay the same price of $20 per bag,” he highlighted.
Prime Minister Bainimarama said that a strong emphasis was being placed on the improvement of soil health through initiatives such as fertiliser uptake, application of aglime and intercropping.
“The sugar industry is expected to achieve its target of two million tonnes of cane this year and with the current sugar price in the domestic and export markets, sugar revenue will increase,” he said.
“As announced in the revised budget of 2021-2022, the government has allocated $500,000 to support cane growers who seek to convert their sugarcane leases to agricultural leases to plant other crops or for residential purposes,” he said.
“We are helping mechanise the industry but not all terrain can be harvested by machines. Some require manual labour, and to fill the labour shortage we are also working with the Fiji Corrections Service to supply labour to the industry,” he added.
“Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) will continue to carry out product, development and diversification and grow the market for its sugar of Fiji product and work on improving the packaging machines and distribution channels and acquire international certifications that would open doors to new markets.”
PM Bainimarama said that there is a potential for FSC to generate good revenue through bulk sugar and molasses exports which will help lift some of the financial burden of the government as a percentage contribution towards the guaranteed price of $85 per tonne.