Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Gounder says he feels sorry for cane farmers because of the false hopes and promises that have been given to them and as a result they are now struggling.
Gounder says it will be extremely challenging to revive the sugar industry unless billions of dollars in taxpayer funds are invested.
He says, in the interest of the farmers, there needs to be a planned intervention, which includes diversifying into other industries and eventually exiting the sugar industry.
He made the comments during the Examining the 2026-2027 National Budget: Implications for Fiji's Economic Hub session organised by Dialogue Fiji in Nadi.
The Permanent Secretary says that as the head of the ministry responsible for safeguarding taxpayer funds, it is time for Fiji to rethink the future of the sugar industry.
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He says the Fiji Sugar Corporation also does not have the money to build a new sugar mill.
Gounder questioned whether taxpayers should continue investing in an industry that is "dying a natural death."
He says while there are many farmers who depend on the industry and it has a long history in Fiji, any intervention must be carefully planned.
Gounder says the country should stop fooling itself into believing the industry can be revived.
He says attempting to revive the industry without a plan would only result in more taxpayer money being wasted.
Responding to Gounder's comments, Fiji Sugar Corporation CEO, Bhan Pratap Singh defended the industry's future, saying previous attempts to diversify communities in the cane belt have not succeeded.
Singh says, unlike many other crops, sugarcane is resilient and can recover quickly after cyclones and droughts, making it well suited to Fiji's climate.
He acknowledged the challenges facing the industry, but maintained that sugarcane remains the most viable option for many farming communities.
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