Fiji : New sugar parliament committee signals political shift in reviving industry
The Fijian government plans to table a motion in Parliament this August to form a special parliamentary committee on sugar, chaired by the Prime Minister and including key political figures. Finance Minister Prof. Biman Prasad reaffirmed strong government backing, highlighting record cane prices and \$72 million in support for subsidies, infrastructure, and farm mechanization.
Government will move a motion in the August sitting of Parliament to establish a special parliamentary committee on sugar.
Minister for Finance, Prof Biman Prasad said the special committee will be chaired by the Prime Minister and and include as members the Deputy PM’s, Minister for Sugar, Leader of the Opposition and a Member of the G9.
He said Government support for the sugar industry will continue given the direct and indirect dependence of almost 200,000 people for their income and livelihood.
“When we came into Government, we delivered a $91.38 per tonne sugar price for the 2022 season. For the 2023 season, Government paid the highest ever cane price of $105.08 per tonne, $20 dollars more than the $85 guaranteed price,” he said.
“For the 2024 season, we are again determined to pay an attractive price.”
“A total funding of $72 million is provided towards sugar to cater for fertilizer and weedicide subsidy, sugar price support, cartage subsidy, cane access roads and farm mechanization.”
“Making cane growing profitable is not the only answer to reviving our sugar industry, which has over the last two decades taken a battering, not only from natural disasters but from direct control and interference from the former regime that is still proving to be destructive and an impediment to increasing sugarcane production.”
To Read more about Sugar Industry continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : The Fiji Times
