‘Not Only A Win For Farmers, But For All Fijians’

The Sugar Cane Growers Fund has labelled the Revised 2021-2022 National Budget as not only a win for farmers, but a win for all Fijians.

The fund’s chief executive officer, Raj Sharma, commended the Sugar Ministry, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and his budget team for the initiative to provide relief to farmers.

Government has allocated $500,000 for alternative lease options for sugarcane farmers who want to convert their sugarcane leases to agricultural leases to plant other crops or use a portion of their land to apply for a 99-year residential lease.

While Government has committed to pay growers $85 per tonne, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Government understood that many cane growers wanted to plant different crops that have greater upside potential, especially small-scale growers. Forty-three per cent of growers cut less than 100 tonnes per year and they are concerned that if they plant other crops, they will lose their leases.

“We cannot let this happen,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“We will facilitate and work with landowners, TLTB and the farmers to help them obtain new leases and other assistance to have lucrative livelihoods and have peace of mind through residential leases.

“They will no longer be hostage to a system that keeps them chained to the cane industry.”

Mr Sharma said the Revised Budget was a good budget considering the socio-economic factors and removal of VAT for 21 essential items during these difficult times. He was urging everyone in the agricultural sector to plant to feed themselves.

“You need to grow food because this is a relief, but things can become more expensive so if you have land you should try to plant on it,” Mr Sharma said.

“Farmers should have diversified crops. At the Sugar Cane Growers Fund, we have launched a product together with the Ministry of Agriculture for sugarcane farmers to also look at ginger farming.

“And we already have a loan product of up to $7000 that we can give to farmers apart from sugarcane farming.

“The Budget is not only a win for farmers, but a win for everyone, especially for the vulnerable population in the rural areas with the removal of VAT on basic food items.”

He commended Government for stepping in to pay off around 600 sugarcane farmers’ loans which was provided to them in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Yasa.

He also thanked Government for the allocation of $940,000 to Fiji Rice which will go towards purchasing and subsidising the rice paddies for the farmers.

And the capital grant of $600,000 for Foods Processors Fiji Limited which would be used to upgrade the Batiri farms and processing machines. He said the capital grant of $470,000 for Fiji Coconut Millers Limited would be used to upgrade the copra mills and also set up dryers for Savusavu farmers.