Fiji’s Sugar Minister, Charan Jeath Singh, has criticized Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) staff for neglecting their responsibilities towards farmers. In a speech delivered in Parliament last week, he highlighted that rather than supporting sugarcane growers, FSC employees have been enjoying kava and chicken curry at the farmers’ expense.
Mr. Singh warned that such behaviors would not be tolerated within the industry. He noted that in previous years, farm advisors and field officers actively supported farmers, but that has changed. “FSC workers on the ground were not supporting the farmers,” he stated, emphasizing that they were instead using their vans for personal enjoyment rather than fulfilling their jobs.
He reiterated that workers who fail to perform their duties need to leave the industry. Additionally, Mr. Singh pointed out that the decline in cane production also stems from growers failing to replant on time. He explained that historically, cane production has dropped from 100 tons per hectare to around 47 tons, while other countries maintain approximately 100 tons.
To address this decline, Mr. Singh urged farmers to focus on maximizing production in smaller areas instead of maintaining large farms with low yields. He highlighted plans for mechanization and support to help increase production, with a target to boost yields to between 75 and 80 tons per hectare. He encouraged farmers to embrace these changes for better productivity.