The Sugarcane Growers Fund has received a fair adjustment in its budget allocation, according to its chief executive officer Raj Sharma. The government has allocated $200,000 for conducting the Cane Growers Council elections and an additional $800,000 for the Council’s operations. Sugarcane Growers Council chief executive officer Vimal Dutt echoed these sentiments, expressing satisfaction with the allocation.
The government has paid the highest-ever sugarcane price of $91.28 per ton to farmers. For the 2023 season, Finance Minister Biman Prasad announced that the cane price is approximately $102 per tonne, setting a new record.
In the new budget, the Ministry of Sugar Industry and Multi-Ethnic Affairs received increased funding of $76.1 million. Of this amount, $66 million is earmarked for farm developments aimed at increasing cane production, providing subsidies for fertilizers and weedicides, cane cartage, upgrading cane access roads, lease premium assistance, drainage, farm mechanization, manual harvesting, and working capital support to Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) to repay its EXIM Bank of India loan.
Minister Prasad emphasized efforts to strengthen the Sugar Cane Growers Council to make it more democratic and representative of the farmers’ interests. He stated, “We have provided $200,000 for the conduct of the cane growers council elections and a further $800,000 for the operations of the council.”
The Sugar Research Institute of Fiji has been allocated $1.1 million, while the Sugar Tribunal has been provided $400,000. Additionally, a budget of $5.9 million includes $2.3 million allocated to promote language, culture, arts, and small community projects.
For the construction of gas crematoriums in Labasa, Navua, Lautoka, and Ba, the government has allocated $1.2 million.