Farmers from Labasa are expressing their frustrations over the delays in receiving their sugarcane planting grant. During a recent visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica, these farmers voiced their concerns about the absence of this crucial financial support.
The farmers, including Vineshwar Prasad, Sunil Nair, Kamal Singh, and Parmeshwar Pillay, highlighted that unlike the previous year when they received the funds promptly, this year’s grant is still outstanding. Despite applying for the grant between August and October, they have yet to see any disbursement.
Prasad remarked on their continued commitment to farming, stating, “While we wait, we continue to work on the farm, planting new crops right after harvest and land preparation.” He mentioned that he was informed by an officer at the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) that the grant had not yet been released by the Ministry of Sugar.
Nair, who has also planted sugarcane on his 3.5 acres, urged that both the FSC and the ministry should act swiftly to release the grants after inspecting the farms. Many farmers, he pointed out, lack formal education and rely heavily on verbal communication regarding the status of their grants.
Mr. Pillay, a veteran sugarcane farmer with over two decades of experience, stressed the importance of supporting an aging agricultural community that depends solely on sugarcane farming for their livelihoods. He too has applied for the grant to keep his family business alive.
On the other hand, the Minister for Sugar, Charan Jeath Singh, who has just returned from COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, provided an update on the grant status. He confirmed that the Ministry of Finance had released the funds to the FSC on November 12 and 18, and that they are currently undergoing a verification process of the farms before disbursal.
Singh noted a change in the timeline this year, explaining that the funds were released later than the prior year to ensure proper verification and prevent issues such as improper germination which occurred last season.
This situation presents an opportunity for improved communication and efficiency in the disbursement process, which could lead to better outcomes for farmers in the future. With the recent funds released and a verification process underway, there is hope that these farmers will soon receive the support they need to continue their vital work in the sugar industry.
Overall, while delays can be frustrating, the ongoing commitment of the farmers and the response from the government provides a glimmer of hope for positive changes ahead in the support system for agriculture in Labasa.
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