Fiji’s sugar industry has to continue to modernize to compete with the rest of the world.
While launching the Cane Seed Nursery in Yaqara, Ra today, Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said new ways have to be used to further improve the sugar industry and be more productive.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the nursery is a significant milestone achieved which will help sugarcane farmers yield more and recognize what are the best farming methodologies.
He said the Yaqara Pastoral Farm has a lot of land which will now be utilised by farmers.
Sayed-Khaiyum said due to politics in the earlier days, the sugar industry has seen a lot of ups and downs facing infrastructure issues and lack of resources.
However, he said the current Government addresses the farmers’ issues in a non-political manner.
The Sugar Ministry said cane price has increased from $45 to over $60 per tonne and farmers will continue to be paid 70% of the net proceeds from both sugar and molasses.
Also farmers who lost their entire crop during the recent floods have been given a grant of $2,500 per hectare.
Story by: Khusboo Singh
