The Fijian government has announced an additional payment of $3 per ton for 7,786 sugar cane farmers who harvested their cane manually, amounting to a total of $2.1 million in support. This initiative was announced by Charan Jeath Singh, the Minister for Sugar, who emphasized that the financial boost is intended to mitigate the challenges of labor-intensive harvesting, especially as labor costs rise.
Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the interests of farmers, stating, “Our farmers are the backbone of Fiji’s sugar sector, and we are dedicated to ensuring they receive the necessary support to succeed.” This proactive measure reflects ongoing government efforts to enhance the livelihoods of those in the sugar industry.
In the previous season, a significant volume of 723,877 tons of cane was harvested manually, and this recent payment is an extension of various financial assistance programs aimed at securing the future of Fiji’s sugar industry. These initiatives are designed to not only alleviate the immediate financial burden but also to foster long-term sustainability and productivity within the agricultural sector.
This new assistance follows similar recent announcements, where nearly 11,000 sugarcane farmers were set to receive a final payment of $4 per tonne for the 2023 season, resulting in a total cane price increase to $105.08 per tonne—the highest on record for the industry. The government’s consistent support underscores the importance of collaboration with farmers to ensure resilience and adaptability in the face of various challenges.
These developments provide a hopeful outlook for sugarcane farmers in Fiji, reinforcing the importance of government initiatives aimed at supporting agriculture and augmenting farmers’ capacity to thrive amidst shifting economic conditions.
In summary, the additional payment for manual harvesting signifies a strengthened commitment to farmer welfare and the sugar industry’s sustainability, inspiring a positive trajectory for the future of this vital sector.
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