The Fiji Sugarcane Growers Council has welcomed the announcement by Government to introduce the “New Cane Farmer Package”.
The Prime Minister and Minister for Sugar Industry Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama today announced in parliament that sugar cane farmers would access a “New Cane Farmer Package” which is a document designed to assist current and new farmers with business knowledge.
Fiji Sugarcane Growers Council chief executive officer Sundresh Chetty said the council fully supports the initiative because of its potential for ordinary farmers.
“We are fully support of the initiative as it would assist farmers immensely as we are aware that there is a need for such a document to be available to farmers so they are able to access assistance which are available to them,” Mr Chetty said.
In his statement today, Prime Minister Bainimarama said this latest development will empower sugar cane farmers and labourers.
“Many of the labourers who work the cane fields have skills and know-how to run their own farms, but they don’t have the opportunity or the business knowledge to get started. So the idea behind this initiative is to help labourers – and other interested individuals – start their own farms by helping them with such things as cane contracts, leases and financing”, Prime Minister Bainimarama said.
The Ministry of Sugar director Viliame Gucake said the industry is already posting results as reforms continue to raise productivity and make the industry sustainable.
“This is a new document which would immensely assist farmers and cut all the running around as the document is designed to be a one stop shop,” Mr Gucake said.
“We are developing a ‘terms of reference’ which would assist not only farmers but also foreign investors that want to come into the country and raise the profile of the sugar industry.”
DEPTFO