Farmers in the sugarcane sector will only receive compensation if their cane was burned before the commencement of the crushing season, according to a statement from the Minister for Sugar, Charan Jeath Singh. The government has allocated $200,000 to aid those affected by the recent fires; however, the payout of $650 per acre is designated solely for early losses that occurred before the crushing began.
Minister Singh emphasized that farmers should not anticipate compensation for cane burned after the start of the crushing operations. He noted that the financial support offered is intended to assist farmers with field clearing and replanting, rather than serving as full compensation for their losses. He revealed that around 5,000 tonnes of sugarcane have been lost over the past month—a figure representing one of the highest amounts recorded in years—as the industry grapples with challenges posed by both arson and accidental fires.
To address the alarming trend of arson, which has severely impacted the sugar industry, the ministry plans to deploy drones and artificial intelligence-driven surveillance to monitor farms and detect suspicious nighttime activity. Minister Singh voiced concerns that the burning of cane not only diminishes the quality of sugar but also has detrimental effects on the national yield. He reiterated that harvesting green cane rather than burnt sugarcane yields better recovery and sugar quality, underscoring the urgent need to put an end to such destructive practices.
Previous articles have highlighted the economic significance of a stable and sustainable sugar industry, where higher cultivation can lead to increased profits for farmers. Stakeholders remain hopeful that improvements in monitoring and community cooperation will foster a safer environment for sugarcane farming while supporting the ongoing recovery and overall resilience of Fiji’s agricultural sector. Overall, with the government’s backing and a communal effort to deter arson, there is an optimistic outlook for the future of sugarcane farming in Fiji.
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