Raj Sharma, CEO of the Sugarcane Growers Fund, has endorsed the increase in budget allocation provided by the government. The budget saw an allocation of $200,000 for conducting the Cane Growers Council elections and a further $800,000 for the council’s operation. Sach sentiments were mirrored by Vimal Dutt, the CEO of Sugarcane Growers Council who expressed satisfaction with the allocation.
The Finance Minister, Biman Prasad, during his budget speech, confirmed the cane price for the 2023 season as around $102 per tonne, a record-setting amount. This follows the historical high of $91.28 that the government paid per ton of sugarcane to farmers.
In the new budget allocation, the Ministry of Sugar Industry and Multi-Ethnic Affairs saw an increased funding of $76.1 million. Of this, $66 million is set aside for farm developments aimed at increasing cane production, improving cane access roads, farm mechanisation, and aiding in loan repayment by the Fiji Sugar Corporation to the EXIM Bank of India, among others.
In support of making the Sugar Cane Growers Council more democratic and representative of farmers’ interests, an additional $200,000 was allocated for council elections, with $800,000 set aside for operation expenses.
The Sugar Research Institute of Fiji got a budget allocation of $1.1 million, and another $400,000 was provided for the Sugar Tribunal. Separately, $2.3 million was designated to promote language, culture, arts, and small community projects. Construction of gas crematoriums in various locations received a budget of $1.2 million.