‘Prawn Farming Has A High Generating Income Capacity’

Prawn farming can become a well-adapted alternative farming option for sugarcane farmers around the country.

This was highlighted by the Sugarcane Growers Fund chief executive officer, Raj Sharma.

Prawn farming has a high income-generating capacity, he said.

Interested farmers can now apply for loans under the Business Link Pacific (BLP), Specialised Small Medium Enterprises (SME) loan scheme.

Farmers can receive a maximum loan cover of $15,000.

The scheme was recently opened for sugarcane farmers in the Northern Division to engage in supplementary farming.

“Supplementary farming is something that we at the fund are driving farmers to involve in so that their income is improved and help sustain their sugarcane farms as well,” he said.

International Guidance

He had a comprehensive discussion with a Fisheries expert from India, Dr Alok last Monday.

The discussion enabled the fund to source guidance and advisory help from the Ministry in India to assist their Fijian farmers with funding.

Mr Sharma said the discussion also helped them understand the sustainable strategies of prawn farming and the cost factor involved with this.

“We will look at the cost factor and the net income farmers can get from prawn farming and how it can be used as a stable income option,” he said.

He said ideally farmers residing near riverbanks had the best opportunity to engage in freshwater prawn farming by having the essential water pumps installed.

They will only be able to identify interested farmers once the sugarcane harvesting period ends in November.

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