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Fiji@50 Fiji@50

Canecutters from Uto Village loading freshly cut cane. Photos: Justin J Naisua

SUGAR’S BITTERSWEET HISTORY

By Samisoni Pareti For the same 10-year period, the number of cane cutters
dropped, as did the tonnage of cane and sugar produced,
Growers like Gyan Deo may be the reason why Fiji’s sugar which ultimately saw a corresponding drop in sugar export re-
industry will still have a future in the next half a century. ceipts. In addition, Dr Sami said the country’s miller, Fiji Sugar
Like the bulk of the country’s 12,000 sugarcane growers, Corporation would have gone bankrupt by now if it wasn’t for
Deo works his 12-acre farm in rural farmland, outside Nadi the Fijian Government’s intervention.
town, on the west coast of Fiji’s main island. The only increase Dr Sami saw was the rise in the delivery
“If I can get 300 tonnes from this year’s crop, I would be of burnt cane, which is an unwelcomed development because
happy,” said Deo. “I might not have a lot in my take home of its poor sugar content.
pay, but at least I would be able to pay my cane cutters, and This gloomy scenario is not shared however by the Fiji First
meet my fertiliser, delivery and other costs.” government of Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama. Through
At the current Fiji government guaranteed price of F$85 cash injections and technical support, its 20-year national
(US$40) per tonne, the Nadi farmer should expect a gross development plan is projecting sugarcane production to rise
income of F$25,500 ($11,800). from the current 1.85 million tonnes for 2020 to 3 million
Unfortunately for him and the Fiji Government, such feel- tonnes by next year.
ings of optimism among cane growers are not contagious. To entice farmers, the government has offered to peg cane
For the 10 year period to 2016, an economist with the price at F$85 per tonne.
University of the South Pacific Dr Janesh Sami said the number But the government will need to do much more if sugar is
of active cane growers declined by 22%. His research further to continue to be a leading export commodity, said Dr Sami.
showed that all key indicators in what was once the country’s Consistency in cane supply, as well as sugar mill efficiency,
leading foreign exchange earner have been on the decline in and a reduction in mill mechnical breakdowns are particular
recent times. challenges the industry needs to address.

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