Fiji sugar growers 'desperate' for flood relief

Fiji's Sugar Cane Growers Council says recent flooding has caused about $US30 million in damages to the country's second biggest industry.

Council chairman Jain Kumar says the industry will not be able to survive without assistance.

The losses include around $US5 million lost to the industry over a six-month period late last year, and further significant falls in income are expected this year in the wake of record floods in recent weeks.

Mr Kumar says the council has written to numerous political bodies and countries, including the European Union, in an attempt to secure financial help.

"The council has written to Australia and New Zealand and other agencies for the assistance that we need immediately to get back to 300 million tonnes because the grower will not be able to do it on his own," he said.

Mr Kumar's comments come a day after the Fiji Farmer's Union said recent floods, together with dilapidated infrastructure, had caused significant financial losses for the sugar industry.