Don't dissolve sugar bodies:Chaudhry

Fiji Labour Party (FLP) leader Mahendra Chaudhry has advised against the dissolution of the three sugar bodies as approved by Cabinet on Thursday.

Cabinet had approved this reform which will see the dissolution of the Sugar Commission of Fiji (SCOF) and the Fiji Sugar Marketing Ltd (FSM), and the transfer of responsibilities of the Sugar Research Institute to the Fiji (SRIF) to the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC).

“The Party cautions against the dissolution of these institutions as it will result in the Fiji Sugar Corporation playing the dominant role of the consequential marginalisation of the cane growers, as was the case in the colonial era,” Chaudhry said.

Chaudhry represented the views of members of the FLP’s national council that held at its meeting in Nadi today.

He said the marketing of sugar should not be the sole responsibility of the FSC as was proposed by the interim Government.

He added it was to be noted that 70 per cent of sugar proceeds belonged to the growers.

“As such, the Sugar Cane Growers Council (SCGC) should play the leading role in the marketing of sugar to ensure that the best deal was secured for their produce,” Chaudhry said.

“The retention of joint marketing set up under the Fiji Sugar Marketing Company is therefore necessary,” he said.

He said while the field extension and farm advisory services could be provided jointly by the FSC and SCGC, the research and mill efficiency audit functions should continue to be the responsibility of SRIF, which must be retained.

“As an incentive to boost agricultural production and exports, Government should provide support to farmers to enable them to buy fertiliser, weedicide, pesticides, seeds and seedlings and other inputs at affordable prices,” Chaudhry said.

At its national council meeting today, Party members reiterated calls for the interim Government to provide adequate support and funds for the timely implementation and completion of the sugar industry reform and restructure programme.

The meeting emphasised it was important to maintain and protect the incomes of cane growers in the face of declining export prices of sugar.

“The importance of this industry cannot be over-emphasised. It sustains the livelihood of some 20 per cent of Fiji’s population – landowners, cane farmers, mill and farm workers and cane cutters, aside from a large number of ancillary undertakings,” Chaudhry said.

Bainimarama had explained that the reform was a commercial decision taken in the interest of the industry, the nation and in particular for the 200,000 rural people who derive their livelihoods from the industry.

He said that the sugar industry structure set up in the 1980s had outlived its usefulness and had become more of a burden.

source:Fijilive