INCENTIVES need to be given to farmers who harvest above their farm basic allotment.
Grower Jai Ram Khelawan from Rarawai, Ba said he previously harvested an average of 300 tonnes of cane from his farm.
“As the weather is getting better, my farm will produce more cane by 30 to 40 tonnes of sugar each year,” the 72-year-old said.
“I propose that there should be a good incentive for any farmer who produces more than his farm basic allotment (FBA) and this will bring healthy competition between farmers.
“For Government and Fiji Sugar Corporation, it is a good way to increase the quantity of sugar cane from our farms.”
Sugar Industry Tribunal commissioner Tim Brown said the regulations were quite simple.
“We’re looking at how do we create incentives for growers to target a tonnage more than the FBA,” he said.
“Right now, if every grower just produces their FBA, we will produce three million tonnes of cane.”
Mr Brown said this referred to the national FBA.
