Sugar Cane Growers Council chief executive, Sundresh Chetty (left) during the stakeholders consultations with farmers in Nawai, Nadi yesterday. Photo: SHEIK DEAN
The Sugar Cane Growers Council, together with relevant stakeholders, is working closely to plant around 8,000 hectares of sugar cane for this season.
This is out of the $8.4 million grant for the sugar development programme.
This was revealed during a stakeholders’ consultation with growers in Nadi.
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama announced the allocation in the 2014 National Budget in November 2013.
Council chief executive, Sundresh Chetty said the council would like to see around 7,000 to 8,000 hectares of sugar cane planted this season from the grant.
“The Government is playing its part in rejuvenating the industry and now the emphasis is on increasing the cane production, harvesting and transportation,” Mr Chetty said.
“We have started with our stakeholders consultations with growers to see how best we can support this aim of the Government.”
Request
Discussions are being held on how best the farmers and the council can increase the cane production and cane yield.
“We request growers to come out in big numbers and get the first hand information on the sugar industries developments’ and their suggestions to grow the industry further.”
He says growers, with their vast experience in the industry, can suggest ideas which will be beneficial for the industry.
$8.4m grant release conditions
Mr Chetty said the $8.4 million grant will be released to farmers once they have prepared their land for planting sugar cane.
“Upon successful land preparation, growers will receive the grant within 30 days.
“Fiji Sugar Corporation is now releasing orders to growers for the grant with the first phase of planting starting in March followed by the second phase in October.”
He says the grant given out will be determined on the area of land prepared for sugar cane planting which will be assessed by the council and FSC.
Issues raised by farmers
One of the major issues raised by growers during the stakeholders’ consultations was the difficulties faced in the harvesting and transportation of sugar cane.
“This one of the major concerns raised by growers and the industry is looking at introducing mechanised harvesting to solve the issue raised,” Mr Chetty said.
However, this would take time but the industry is also looking at improving the rail transportation system, he said.
“FSC has started investing in the railway transportation system and it has been agreed that we need to increase our rail ration from 25 per cent to at least 35 per cent in the next two years.”
The council will have similar consultations in the 38 sectors in the four mill areas with representatives from the corporation and the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji.