Cane farmers urged to capitalise on wet weather

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Picture: FT FILE

THE Sugar Cane Growers Council (SCGC) is urging farmers to take advantage of the wet weather and Government’s $15.4 million grant to plant more cane.

SCGC chief executive Sundresh Chetty said the funds that were available combined with rainfall over the past few days provided the perfect opportunity for cultivation.

“We are urging those who have prepared their land to make every effort to plant,” he said.

“This is one of the best times for planting — from March right through to May.

“And we are urging farmers to plant because the more cane we have, the better it is for the industry.”

Mr Chetty said there were cane planting grants still available and farmers could receive as much as $2000 per hectare from the Government.

“Payment is done on land preparation and then completed once the plants start to germinate.”

Government and industry stakeholders including the Fiji Sugar Corporation has set a target of 3.5 million tonnes of cane by 2023-2024.

In 2017, cane production declined to 1.63 million tonnes and improved slightly to 1.68 million tonnes last year.

While industry stakeholders have yet to announce this season’s projected production, farmers have said they were expecting a bumper crop barring any major weather events.

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