By SHEIK DEAN
The Fiji Sugar Corporation is expecting to rejuvenate our sugar industry and increase yield per hectare annually with its Sugar Industry Action Plan.
This Action Plan implemented earlier this year is to revamp the Fijian sugar industry to economically-sustainable levels, says Sugar Cane Growers Council acting chief executive, Sundresh Chetty.
“In 2012, the industry had 41,000 hectares of land under sugar cane farming with average yield at 40,000 tonnes per hectare,” he said.
The Fiji Sugar Corporation, together with relevant stakeholders, is working closely to increase these numbers bringing more benefits for both the farmers and the Industry.
“Through the Plan we are expecting to increase the numbers which is a long term goal as the industry targets to process around 4 million tonnes of sugar in 2017,” Mr Chetty said.
The plan is chaired by Sugar Industry Tribunal Industrial Commissioner, Timoci Brown.
Success of the Plan
Mr Chetty said the Bainimarama Government is fully supportive of this plan and is constantly reviving the sugar industry.
Relevant stakeholders and the council have been conducting awareness sessions to educate farmers on the Sugar Industry Action Plan.
“Positive feedback shows the determination by farmers in making the Sugar Industry more viable in the near future,” he said.
He said current reports from Fiji Sugar Corporation on processed raw sugar i quite encouraging in its first month of 2013 crushing season.
“Farmers are doing their best in keeping the constant fresh cane supply to their respective district mills,” he said.