Bagasse could revive Fiji's sugar industry, sugar industry stakeholders hear

A cane growers' leader says bagasse and other sugarcane by-products could help revive Fiji's sugar industry by generating new income and improving farm productivity.

Wailevu Sector Cane Producers Association president Dewan Chand said has called for bagasse to be treated as a valuable resource rather than waste, saying it could generate additional income for the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC)and farmers.

Speaking during consultations today on the future of the sugar industry in Namara, Labasa, he said bagasse, a by-product of sugarcane processing, could be used to generate electricity, creating another revenue stream for FSC that would ultimately benefit cane growers.

“Instead of leaving bagasse to rot or dumping it near mangrove areas, it should be used productively or returned to farmers,” Mr Chand said.

Mr Chand said countries such as Mauritius, Cuba and India were already making better use of bagasse by recycling it back to farms because of its mineral content.

He said mill mud, another by-product of sugar production, should also be returned to farmers to improve soil fertility and boost cane yields.

Mr Chand stressed that improving mill performance remained equally important, saying frequent mill breakdowns delayed crushing, increased harvesting costs and reduced sugar recovery.

He also called for FSC to diversify beyond sugar and molasses by investing in products such as paper plates, cups and other value-added products made from sugarcane by-products.

Mr Chand questioned how government grants to FSC were being utilised and called for greater accountability to ensure funding delivered tangible improvements.

He also urged the Sugar Research Institute to strengthen field research and provide more direct support to farmers through soil testing and productivity programmes.

Mr Chand said protecting productive sugar land, improving marketing opportunities and exploring preferential sugar prices in overseas markets were essential to securing the long-term future of Fiji's sugar industry.

Responding to the concerns, Minister for Sugar and Agriculture Tomasi Tunabuna said FSC was working to improve operations and reduce costs through better use of available resources.

He said details on operational spending and cost-reduction measures, including the use of by-products such as potash and molasses, could be further clarified by FSC.

Mr Tunabuna acknowledged challenges in research capacity, including limited funding and access to land, affecting institutions such as the Sugar Research Institute.

He said the Government was restructuring research programmes to ensure practical findings were shared with farmers and communities.

“We will ensure that what has been found appropriate for farming systems is extended to farmers in terms of sustainable farm management and improving productivity,” he said.

He added that ministries were working with research institutions, universities and academics to address challenges in both sugarcane and non-sugarcane farming.

Mr Tunabuna said more training and field demonstrations would be carried out to improve the adoption of research and farming innovations.

He also noted that some recommended cane varieties introduced about a decade ago had yet to be widely adopted.

“We should be working closely with research organisations so that scientific work is reflected in our farming systems,” Mr Tunabuna said.