The Sugar Cane Growers Council is now seriously looking at ways as to how 30,000 hectares of land that remains idle or under‑utilised, will be used for cane planting.
Council’s Chief Executive Officer Sundresh Chetty says the difficulty is the shortage of labourers and farm workers and they are now working with the government towards mechanization.
He says the government is helping in acquiring cane harvesters.
Chetty says the growers usually complain that it is easy for them to grow cane but to harvest and deliver it to the mill is becoming increasingly difficult.
Chetty says apart from the cane development program, the annual grant given to South Pacific Fertilizers Limited by the government has seen a major reduction in the cost of fertilizer and weedicide for the average sugarcane farmer in the country.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama stated last week that all efforts are underway to increase sugar production in the country.
He says the budget for the sugar industry increased to $60 million this year.
He says cane production is also expected to increase to 2 million tonnes.
