88 sugarcane farmers in the North have received government assistance through the New Farmers and Lease Renewal Program with a budget of $2 million.
This is where the Ministry has approved the assistance of lease renewals by paying 30 percent of the cost or a maximum of $7,500, whichever was lower to the farmers.
The farmers received their assistance documents from the Minister for Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs Charan Jeath Singh
While officiating at the handing over, Minister Singh highlighted the Government’s commitment towards the revival of the sugar industry in Fiji.
Singh says other programs that the Government, through the Ministry of Sugar, have been assisting the farmers in is their farm access roads, in-field drainages, cage bins, subsidies for fertilizer, weedicides, cane planting grants for tractors, harvesters and mechanical cane planters and fertilizer applications.
The Minister is urging all eligible farmers to take advantage of these opportunities and to continue their invaluable contribution to the sugar industry.
49-year-old farmer Anita Lata was all smiles after receiving her documents from the Minister and stated that she is very happy and thanked the coalition Government for assisting the farmers and enabling them to continue pursuing sugarcane farming.
She also acknowledged the government for considering female farmers as well.
