Government Hands Over Grants to 88 Sugarcane Farmers

About 88 sugarcane farmers from the West received Government’s grants yesterday by the Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar, Charan Jeath Singh.

The handed-over was conducted in Ba.

The two key grants are the New Farmers/Lease Premium Grant and the Farm Mechanisation Grant. The grants are to enhance productivity and deliver crucial resources to farmers.

Under the New Farmers and Lease Premium Assistance programme, the minister said they had assisted 223 farmers to date.

“These farmers have benefitted from crucial funding that helps them access and secure land for sugarcane farming,” Mr Singh said.

“An additional 88 farmers will receive support with 52 farmers in the Rarawai to Penang Mill area, 13 in Lautoka, and 23 in the Nadi to Sigatoka corridor. This programme, not only supports new entrants but also secures land tenure for existing farmers to expand their operations and sustain the industry.”

He said Government understood that secure land access was important for the long-term sustainability of the sugar industry.

“Through continued consultation and strategic planning, we are committed to addressing land lease issues, ensuring that every farmer has the support needed to thrive.

“Recognising the need to tackle labour shortages and high production costs, we are prioritising farm mechanisation as a key part of our strategy to boost productivity.”

He said 12 sugarcane planters and 16 fertiliser applicators were being distributed to tractor service providers across the sugar sector.

“These vital tools will assist farmers in planting and applying fertilisers more efficiently, allowing them to reduce manual labor and improve overall productivity.

Mr Singh said through the Farm Mechanisation Grant, they would provide 50 per cent subsidy on these machines, ensuring that tractor service providers could access this equipment affordably.

“In return, these providers are expected to offer their services to farmers at subsidised rates, especially for cane planting and fertilizer application. This partnership between Government and the private sector ensures that modern farming techniques are accessible to all farmers, regardless of their resources.

“This mechanisation programme is a crucial part of our overall strategy to modernise the sugar industry, reduce production costs, and increase yields. By making these technologies available to farmers, we are paving the way for a more sustainable and competitive sugar industry in Fiji.

“The future of our sugar industry depends on our ability to adapt and innovate.”

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