SUGAR industry stakeholders have unveiled plans to plant 9000 hectares of new cane over three years in an effort to increase production by 500,000 tonnes.
The move to increase yield is part of the sugar action plan, designed to take sugar production from 1.54 million tonnes recorded last season to 5.25 million tonnes by the year 2022.
Tate and Lyle sugar consultant Dan Boodhna informed cane growers at an industry stakeholders consultation near Tavua on Monday that 3000ha were planted last year with the same planned for this year and the next.
"The 3000ha represents 7500 acres of cane and once we reach 9000ha, this should give us an additional 500,000 tonnes of cane per annum going forward," he said.
Mr Boodhna urged cane growers to increase planting by improving land preparation, fertiliser application and by using good quality seed cane.
"There are great opportunities that exist to sell all your cane to the Fiji Sugar Corporation that will in turn sell all your sugar to existing markets.
"You should also be encouraged by the increasing price for your crop. When I first arrived here in 2010 it was $53.50, then it jumped to $63, last year it was $65.50 and this year we are looking at more than $70 per tonne," he informed the farmers.