Fiji imports processed white sugar for manufacturers such as Coca-Cola and other companies, while raw sugar for supermarkets is only imported when there is insufficient locally produced sugar.
This was highlighted by Minister for Sugar Tomasi Tunabuna while speaking to fijivillage News, saying this is done particularly when production is low or after a natural disaster.
Tunabuna says the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) has reported that it has some stock available for supermarkets.
He says Fiji normally imports raw sugar when there is insufficient sugar, especially when production is low or when the country experiences a natural disaster.
Insert:Tunabuna on sugar import 29th July.
The Minister says white sugar, icing sugar and other processed sugars are all imported and are not made from Fiji's brown sugar.
He explains that Fiji produces raw sugar, while processed sugars are imported at all times.
Providing an update on the crushing season, the Minister says the Lautoka and Labasa mills are operating at above 80 percent of their capacity, while the Ba Mill is operating at a little over 60 percent capacity, adding that production is now picking up.
Meanwhile, the Minister also highlights efforts to support diversification among sugarcane farmers.
He says last week he handed over a project to a farming community involved in sugarcane, which can also be used for cultivating other crops.
He says more than 30 rice harvesters have been provided over the past three weeks.
The Minister says they are also looking at increasing the fertiliser subsidy to include other crops so they can continue providing assistance to sugarcane farmers, allowing them to benefit from growing other crops, not just sugarcane.
