The Minister for Sugar Industry, Tomasi Tunabuna says the high cost of production is making the sugar industry unviable, as farmers and the sector continue to face challenges.
His comments come after Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Gounder said he feels sorry for cane farmers because of the false hopes and promises that have been given to them and, as a result, they are now struggling.
Gounder says it will be extremely challenging to revive the sugar industry unless billions of dollars in taxpayer funds are invested, and questioned whether taxpayers should continue investing in an industry he says is "dying a natural death.
He made the comments during the Examining the 2026–2027 National Budget: Implications for Fiji's Economic Hub session organised by Dialogue Fiji in Nadi.
When asked about those comments, Tunabuna says he has been making the same point all along.
INSERT: Tunabuna on sugar industry 13th July
Tunabuna says farmers' hopes have been there for a long time because people have continued telling them the industry can be revived.
Responding to comments that a new mill was being proposed by the Fiji Sugar Corporation, he questioned where we will get the sugarcane from.
He says Fiji is currently receiving the cane that farmers are harvesting, but the mills are not operating at full capacity because of the decline in cane supply.
However, the Minister says the solution lies in diversification, with farmers able to offset losses from sugar by growing other crops.
He says when we look at the holistic farming situation, you can be making a loss on one crop, but you can gain from other crops.
He says the Government is encouraging sugarcane farmers to diversify into root crops, vegetable and pineapples so they can earn more income from crops that cost less to produce.
However, Tunabuna adds sugar remains an important crop because there is still demand for it.
