Cane Growers Happy with Budget Allocation

Sugarcane Growers Fund chief executive officer Raj Sharma said their budget allocation was a fair adjustment made by Government in terms of an increase in budget allocation.

Government allocated $200,000 for the conduct of the Cane Growers Council elections and a further $800,000 for the operations of the Council.

The same sentiments were shared by Sugarcane Growers Council chief executive officer Vimal Dutt.

“We are happy with it,” Mr Dutt said.

Government paid the highest-ever sugarcane price of $91.28 per ton to farmers.

In the budget address last Friday, Minister for Finance Biman Prasad said for the 2023 season, the cane price is around $102 per tonne a record in itself.

In the new budget allocation, the Ministry of Sugar Industry and Multi-Ethnic Affairs was provided an increased funding of $76.1 million.

Sugarcane Growers Fund chief executive officer, Raj Sharma.

Out of this, $66m is provided for farm developments to increase cane production, fertilizer and weedicide subsidy, subsidy for cane cartage, upgrade of cane access roads, lease premium assistance, drainage, farm mechanisation, subsidy for manual harvesting and working capital support to Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) to repay its EXIM Bank of India loan.

Mr Biman said they were working towards strengthening the Sugar Cane Growers Council and making it more democratic, so it represented the farmers’ will and interest.

“We have provided $200,000 for the conduct of the cane growers council elections and a further $800,000 for the operations of the council,” Mr Biman said.

‘The Sugar Research Institute of Fiji is provided $1.1 million while the Sugar Tribunal is provided $400,000. In addition to the allocation of a budget of $5.9m. “

Out of this, $2.3m was allocated to promote language, culture and arts and small community projects.

For the construction of gas crematoriums in Labasa, Navua, Lautoka and Ba, Government allocated $1.2 million in the budget.

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