Sugar industry stakeholders will begin consultations with cane farmers beginning next week in Rakiraki.

The stakeholders include the Sugar Cane Growers Council, who are co-coordinating the consultations, the Ministry of Sugar, the Fiji Sugar Corporation, Sugar Industry Tribunal and the Sugar Cane Growers Fund and the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji.

SCGC chief executive officer Sundressan Chetty said the consultations would begin at Burenitu in Ellington Sector Two on Tuesday and later that day at Navula Community Hall in Ellington Sector One.

“This is to inform the growers on the current development of the sugar cane industry,” Mr Chetty said.

“We will have a representative from the Ministry of Sugar together with all the stakeholders present to brief the growers on the current developments.”

“The consultations will also be on initiatives from the subsidies and grants that are in place for the farmers and to carry out awareness on how we can have cane development.”

A talanoa session is also planned where farmers will be allowed to air their views and problems they were facing.

Last year Government initiated grants to cane farmers in an effort to help revive the industry, especially after the devastation caused to cane farms by Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016.

Government Initiatives, grants and subsidies include:

Cane Development

Fertilizer Subsidy

Weedicide Subsidy

Infield Drainage/ Cane Access Roads

Tractor & Implements

This includes new entrants to the sugar industry and the Small Grant Scheme.

Mr Chetty said similar consultations were also being planned for other sectors in all the cane growing belts on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Feedback:  charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj