IN A bid to mechanise the sugar industry, Government, for the first time, has joined forces with a local automotive company to provide tractors that will be utilised to boost cane production.
This is after the Ministry of Sugar purchased three Massey Fergusson tractors together with implements from Asco Motors worth $400,000.
The Ministry’s permanent secretary Mr Manasa Vaniqi said through this acquisition, Government was meeting the needs of the sugarcane farmers following frequent request due to the unavailability and high cost of hiring these equipments.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, he said, “These tractors and associated equipment will be utilised by cane growers at affordable rates to assist them in their land preparation during the main planting months from March to May and from the second planting window in October and November”.
The tractors will be up for hire by farmers who will be able to lease it from the Fiji Sugar Corporation with the oversight of the Ministry.
Mr Vaniqi said Government is making this investment to boost cane production beginning from 2014.
“Next year Government through my Ministry has made budgetary provisions to purchase another three tractors and three sets of implements for the same purpose,” he said.
Government has provided $600,000 in the 2014 budget for the purchase of cultivators.
Asco Motors national marketing manager, Ms Elenoa Korovulavula, said they understood the challenges of Government and other stakeholders in the sugar industry.
“It is to this end that Asco Motors is working on machinery initiatives specific for the sugar industry to assist Government realise its goal of revitalization of the sugar industry in Fiji,” she said.
She said Asco through their manufacturing partners AGCO International were able to offer Government specialised machinery and implements in mechanising the industry coupled with technical know-how support.
Other agricultural sectors are also being targeted by the company in terms of assistance with specialised machinery.
Mr Vaniqi said the purchase went through the proper Government procurement procedures where tenders were called and Asco out-bid two other companies.
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