No future for declining sugar industry without shock therapy – Biman Prasad

There is no future for the declining sugar industry if the government does not bring in shock therapy.

National Federation Party Leader Biman Prasad says the number of active growers since the coup has significantly reduced by 5764 and cane production has declined from 3.22 million tonnes in 2006 to 1.84 million tonnes in the last season.

He says the sugar industry is going through a tough time and it will die a painful death if nothing is done to improve the livelihood of the growers.

Prasad says the only realistic solution to boost cane production is to increase the income for the Fiji Sugar Corporation by injecting $50 million per year for the next three years towards the growers following the loss of the European Union grant as a result of the coup.

Prasad says the Prime Minister should provide solutions to improve the ailing sugar industry as well as to improve and enhance the livelihood of cane growers who are the largest and most important stakeholders in the industry.

Prasad says without cane growers there is no Fiji Sugar Corporation.