The Lautoka Cane Producers Association have approved an emergency budget of $200,000 to provide all the 4,000 members with a $50 food voucher.
Executive Manager, Bayant Singh says the Association decided to help its members through a one-off food-ration distribution program aimed at alleviating the sufferings of their cane farming members and their communities.
He says the decision was made after some members indicated their struggles to buy basic food items.
Singh says the Board has decided to use revenue earned from its mechanical harvester operation over the last 2 years and some premium funds to assist its members.
The voucher distribution program will start on a sector by sector basis and is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
