Most of the farmers from the sugar belt areas left because of the non-renewal of land leases which affects sugar production.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Agriculture Inia Seruiratu in Parliament.
Seruiratu says soil degradation is another factor that affects sugar production.
He says fertilizer is being subsidized by government but it is the farmers that make the choices.
Seruiratu says if you keep pumping in fertilizer without any remedial actions then it will degrade soil fertility and definitely it’s going to affect production.
He adds another factor is change in weather patterns.
He says labour and aging farmers is also a contributing factor to the production.
Seruiratu says not all canes gets to the mills because of labour shortage.
He says these are external factors that are beyond their influence.
