Raj Sharma, CEO of the Sugarcane Growers Fund, has expressed confidence in the government’s decision to increase the budget allocation for their sector. The government has designated $200,000 for the Cane Growers Council elections and another $800,000 for the council’s operations. Vimal Dutt, CEO of the Sugarcane Growers Council, concurred with Sharma’s sentiments.
The government paid a record-breaking $91.28 per ton to sugarcane farmers, with plans to increase this price to about $102 per ton for the 2023 season announced by Minister for Finance Biman Prasad. The Ministry of Sugar Industry and Multi-Ethnic Affairs is also set to receive an increased funding of $76.1 million in the new budget allocation.
Of this allocation, a substantial $66 million will go towards farm developments to boost cane production, premium assistance, agronomic support, FSC’s repayment to EXIM Bank of India, among other things. Biman also highlighted plans to strengthen the Sugar Cane Growers Council’s democratic nature, echoing the provision of $200,000 for council elections and an additional $800,000 for its operations.
Additional funds were allocated to other related entities; $1.1 million to the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji and $400,000 to the Sugar Tribunal. Regarding cultural promotion, $2.3 million was designated to bolster the promotion of language, culture, arts, and small community projects. The budget also allocated $1.2 million for the construction of gas crematoriums in Labasa, Navua, Lautoka, and Ba.