Low-yield farmers may exit cane farming as focus shifts to scaling up middle-tier growers – Singh

For a sustainable sugar industry, farmers who produce less than 100 tonnes and show little potential for improvement may be moved out of cane farming while more support will be directed to middle-tier farmers producing 100–250 tonnes to help them scale up into commercially viable operations.

This has been confirmed by Minister for Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh while speaking in support of the 2025-2026 National Budget.

The Minister says he has directed the newly appointed Permanent Secretary for Sugar Industry to lead a comprehensive structural transformation across all key components of industry — growers, institutions, and the miller.

Singh says the objective is to drive the industry towards full commercialisation and long-term sustainability.

Singh says nearly half (4,876) producing less than 100 tonnes and contributing just 15 percent of total supply while farmers producing between 100 and 300 tonnes make up the backbone of the industry with over 50 percent of output, while just 10 percent produce over 300 tonnes, contributing 32 percent.

He says only about 20 percent of what we produce is consumed locally, while the vast majority is destined for international markets and that means the industry must operate with a commercial mindset.

He says they are going to transform ongoing programmes to ensure they can support farmers to move into the next tier to become sustainable.

The Minister confirms, where improvement is unlikely, they will work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and other line agencies to transition these farmers into alternative livelihoods such as livestock or other crop farming, so they are not left behind.

He says at the same time, they will intensify support for middle-tier farmers — those producing 100 to 250 tonnes — to help them scale up into commercially viable enterprises.

Singh says these farmers have the greatest potential to drive economic growth, improve industry efficiency, and form the core of a modern, resilient, and competitive sugar economy.

He says their goal is to increase sugar production by 200,000 tonnes annually over the next five years.

The Minister says they have reset productivity target, aiming to grow from the current 47 tonnes per hectare with a 10 percent annual increase and some farms are already achieving over 70 tonnes, and research shows yields of up to 150 tonnes per hectare are possible.

Singh says the sugar mills are performing well this year due to Fiji Sugar Corporation’s preventive maintenance and an $18 million investment to upgrade ageing infrastructure.

He adds a toll-free farmer helpline will be launched to improve communication and ensure farmer issues are addressed more effectively.