Approximately 200,000 people are affected by the sugar cane industry directly or indirectly although it contributes only 5 percent towards the country’s GDP.
This was highlighted by Acting Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum at the opening of the Rarawai Sugar Mill.
Sayed-Khaiyum says that when the sugar is sold the money goes directly to the hands of a whole range of people who are involved in the sugar industry.
He adds that there was a decline in the production of sugar because there were little investments in the sugar mills in the past decades and non-renewal of leases.
The Acting Prime Minister stresses that now the Fiji Sugar Corporation has a very good team and the government is continuously trying to address the systematic issues.
He says that every body is equal in the sugar industry.
Crushing started at Rarawai sugar mill yesterday.
