The Sugar Ministry is planning to request financial support from the Ministry of Finance to aid farmers affected by recent flooding in the Western and Northern divisions. Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh announced that stakeholders from these regions have compiled assessment reports to bolster their financial appeal.
Minister Singh stated, “My ministry, together with other sugar stakeholders, is waiting for the damage reports.” He expects to approach the Ministry of Finance for funding once these reports are received this week.
Raj Sharma, the chief executive officer of the Sugar Cane Growers Fund, shared that preliminary assessments indicated that while some areas experienced minor damage, others require infrastructure improvements. He explained that certain low-lying crossings were inundated, but there was minimal impact on adjacent farms.
Mr. Sharma indicated that specific farms had issues with waterlogging due to drainage challenges but noted that in-farm drainage improvements helped with the speedy retreat of floodwaters. He encouraged growers facing difficulties to seek assistance through parametric insurance available at the Sugar Cane Growers Council.
In terms of specific areas affected, Sharma reported that in Tavua and Rakiraki, damage to cane crops was either minimal or non-existent in hilly regions. However, there were some observations of similar resilience in Lautoka, while in Nadi, there was flooding that damaged a farmer’s house. Notably, certain farms in the Qeleloa area experienced cane damage due to flooding and structural damage to a farmer’s residence.
This proactive approach by the Sugar Ministry and the efforts of sugar stakeholders to ensure assessment and funding requests exemplify community resilience and their commitment to supporting farmers during challenging times.
Summary: The Sugar Ministry plans to seek funding from the Ministry of Finance to assist flood-affected farmers, with assessments indicating minor damage overall. Efforts are being made to restore affected farms and ensure grower support through available insurance options.
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