In a recent visit to the sugarcane cultivation areas in Ba and Lautoka and the Rarawai Mill, the Assistant Minister in the office of the Prime Minister, Hon Sakiusa Tubuna, highlighted the pressing need for a holistic and comprehensive approach to tackle the myriad challenges facing the sugar sub-sector.
The industry, once a backbone of the economy, is grappling with declining sugarcane production, shrinking profit margins for farmers, and the escalating cost of production.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Hon Tubuna emphasized that the sub-sector’s sustainability and future prosperity hinge upon collaborative efforts to address the root causes of its decline.
“The sugar sub-sector is at a critical juncture, and transformative measures are urgently required to breathe new life into an industry that has been a cornerstone of our nation’s economy,” he stated,
The Assistant Minister highlighted that declining sugarcane production has resulted in lower raw sugar output, making the sugar industry inefficient and unsustainable from an industry standpoint.
This decline is attributed to a range of factors, including changing agricultural practices and the adverse effects of climate change.
However, it is the challenges faced by sugarcane farmers that have caught the government’s attention.
Rising labor, harvest, and transportation costs, along with consistently low sugar prices, pose a grave threat to farmers’ livelihoods.
“The challenges confronting our sugarcane farmers are deeply concerning. Their hardships impact not only their lives but also have significant ramifications for our agricultural sector and rural communities,” Hon Sakiusa Tubuna said.
To address these issues, the Assistant Minister emphasised the necessity for a comprehensive and multi-dimensional strategy.
“We need a comprehensive approach to tackle issues across the spectrum – from boosting productivity and mechanization to elevating product quality and achieving economies of scale.,” he asserted.
Hon Tubuna further stressed that revival requires internal adjustments and comprehension of intricate relationships among production structures, trading systems, and institutions.
“Transformative changes are imperative to generate positive impacts on the social, economic, and environmental fronts. Without tangible alterations to the current production and trade dynamics, our efforts will fall short of achieving lasting change,” he cautioned.
In pursuit of a comprehensive sugar policy, the Assistant Minister highlighted the necessity of conducting an exhaustive cost-benefit analysis encompassing every facet of the sub-sector.
This analysis should span from land tenure and crop development to harvesting, transportation, and milling.
Such an approach, he believes, will pave the way for an informed and effective strategy that addresses the sub-sectors challenges head-on.
As the sugar sub-sector grapples with volatile markets and the growing specter of climate change, the call for concerted efforts and innovative solutions has never been more urgent.
The Assistant Minister’s reflection acts as a call to action for all stakeholders, including farmers, industry participants, and policymakers, to come together and rejuvenate an industry with profound historical and economic importance for the country.
The Assistant Minister was accompanied by former FAO senior Economist and current FSC Board Member Mr Kaison Chang.