The National Farmers Union (NFU) has called on Government to announce assistance for sugarcane farmers affected by STC Yasa in the North.
This was one of the major topics discussed during union’s executive board meeting in Lautoka yesterday.
NFU general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry said farmers needed financial assistance now.
“Farmers have the crop to look after and house to rebuild and they are waiting to see how they will be assisted,” he said.
“There is already a system that was used during Winston, the HomeCare initiative that can offer money for house re-building.
Why can’t that be replicated now as farmers are waiting, wanting to know how Government will assist.”
He said “it was shocking” that no help had been announced by the State yet.
“FSC CEO Graham Clark told me at the FSC AGM that they are compiling and fine-tuning the damage assessment report,” he claimed. “How long does it take to do this?
Our growers are waiting. The matter requires urgency and to keep them waiting is not right,” Mr Chaudhry added.
