Outgoing Minister for the Sugar Industry, Charan Jeath Singh, shared significant achievements from his three-year tenure, highlighting record payments and renewed stakeholder confidence in Fiji’s sugar industry. Speaking at a grant handout event in Lautoka, Singh emphasized that this period has seen the distribution of the three highest cane payments in the country’s history, attributing this success to enhanced coordination, strong government backing, and the determination of farmers.
Singh remarked, “These outcomes did not happen by chance,” underscoring that the progress was the result of improved collaboration, robust government support, and the unwavering effort of farmers. He pointed out that the government intentionally shifted the focus of the industry from blame and quick fixes to a framework of partnership, long-term planning, and shared responsibility.
Highlighting this transformation, Singh noted the move from fragmented decision-making to collective accountability, which he believes helped restore unity and transparency across the sector. He outlined the government’s goal of boosting cane production by an additional 200,000 tonnes annually, backed by investments in mill performance, logistics, governance reforms, and direct support for growers.
The outgoing minister stressed that these initiatives aim to solidify the industry’s foundations, rather than seeking temporary, unsustainable solutions. “Importantly, this Government has been clear from the start — we are not in the business of shutting down sugar communities; we are in the business of rebuilding them,” he stated.
Although Singh acknowledged the ongoing challenges the industry faces, he expressed optimism that the reforms and collaborative efforts established over the past three years have set the sector on a more sustainable trajectory, paving the way for continued recovery and growth in the future.
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