Fiji : Bhamji calls for review of Sugar Cane Growers Council Act to support industry growth
Fiji’s Sugar Cane Growers Council chairman urged an urgent review of outdated legislation, saying it blocks investment, loans to cooperatives, support for growers’ families, and joint ventures. Legal limits forced applicants to seek bank financing, slowing mechanisation, diversification, and broader industry development, and undermining progress across the sugar sector nationwide.
Chairman of the Sugar Cane Growers Council (SCGC), Ahmed Bhamji, has called for an urgent review of the Council’s governing legislation, saying outdated provisions are hindering progress and investment in the sugar industry.
Speaking in Lautoka yesterday at the opening of the SCGC’s new Lautoka office, Mr. Bhamji said the issue has been under consideration for the past three years but now requires decisive action.
“That has been in train for the last three years and it needs to be reviewed to improve our governance structure, allow us to explain and manage investments better, and increase the scope of what we can support,” Mr. Bhamji said.
He said current legal restrictions prevent the Council from supporting a wider group of stakeholders involved in the industry, including cooperatives, companies and even growers’ spouses who wish to start small businesses.
“We cannot support the wider farming community — like cooperatives, companies engaged in the industry, or even growers’ spouses who may want to set up backyard poultry, beehive industries or other small businesses,” he said.
Mr. Bhamji highlighted that this year, several cooperatives and individuals applied for assistance to purchase harvesters and trucks but were unable to secure funding through the Council.
“We had applications from people and cooperatives who wanted to buy harvesters, and cooperatives who wanted to buy trucks. FSC advertised for these trucks, and the cooperatives wanted to buy them, but we could not lend to them because the Act does not allow us to give loans to anyone apart from the contracted farmer,” he said.
As a result, the Council had to arrange for applicants to seek loans through the Fiji Development Bank and other financial institutions.
He said the legislation also restricts the Council from entering joint ventures that could strengthen the industry.
“We have had discussions about going into joint ventures with FSC or other organisations, but the Act does not allow us to do that. These are the things that are really slowing the progress of the sugar industry and affecting all stakeholders,” Mr. Bhamji said.
Mr. Bhamji stressed that an urgent review of the Act is needed to modernise the Council’s operations and unlock opportunities to support growth and sustainability within the sugar sector.
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Source : The Fiji Times
