The government has initiated another study of the sugar industry, receiving assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which has assigned two consultants to the project. Poonyth Daneswar and Jolly Lindsay met with Charan Jeath Singh, the Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and the Sugar Industry, last week.
According to the ministry, Fiji’s sugar industry is undergoing a transformative process aimed at overcoming significant challenges that have affected its growth and sustainability.
The study will prioritize technical support to create a strategic plan, as well as a policy and institutional framework to address these issues. It will also assess the feasibility of various projects, including the establishment of a new sugar refinery and the enhancement of energy generation capacity.
Ultimately, the goal is to produce an actionable plan to implement necessary changes within the sugar sector. The two consultants are expected to spend two weeks in the country, engaging with key stakeholders and farmers.