President, Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere says the sugar industry is facing many challenges. These challenges include fluctuating prices of fuel, transportation and fertilisers, among other materials.

And these challenges were an opportunity to think of alternate farming.

The bottom line is the optimum use of the land, he said.

These were the sentiments he expressed during the Sugar Cane Growers Fund (SCGF) staff awards night in Lautoka on Monday.

He also launched the new Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) initiatives and website and opened the newly renovated SCGF board room and training centre.

“It should not be limited to sugar cane farming only, in order to achieve supplementary income and food security through dalo, cassava, rice, vegetables and livestock farming,” he said.

He added those in the agriculture industry, mainly sugarcane farmers, were fortunate that $500,000 had been allocated in the Revised 2021–2022 National Budget to support them.

President Katonivere congratulated the SCGF board of directors and the management for their commitment and dedication to the organization.

SCGF chief executive officer, Raj Sharma said over the past two years it had been a difficult journey for the sugar industry.

“Whether you are in the farm or you are in the office from COVID and so many challenges that we had gone through and we were able to come out of it because we happened to be the essential service provider,” said Mr Sha

President Katonivere said: “The work of the SCGF affects the livelihood of more than 12,000 cane farmers and indirectly about 20 per cent of the population who are dependent on the industry.

“The sensible use of resources such as land and sea for food supply, the use of solar energy or hydroelectric energy for energy consumption and the import substitutes must be monitored.”

He also said although Fiji’s economy was on the road to positive economic growth, we should not become complacent during such times.

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