Sugar production expected to surpass FSC target - Vaniqi

Sugar production is expected to surpass the 200,000 tonnes mark targeted by the Fiji Sugar Corporation for this year.

Speaking at the press conference on the 2014 crushing season at Sugar House in Lautoka yesterday, Permanent Secretary for Sugar Manasa Vaniqi said FSC has estimated 2 million tonnes of cane will be crushed to produce 230,000 tonnes of sugar.

Vaniqi said until last week, out of 1.6 million tonnes of cane, FSC was able to produce 206,000 tonnes of sugar.

He said the government has injected a substantial amount of money to rejuvenate the industry once more.

Vaniqi said that it is also known to all the cane belt areas and also to 200,000 people that rely on the sugar industry for their survival that there was a very strong suggestion that there is no future for the industry.

He added that they have proved it wrong and they would wish to thank the government for taking the commitment with the initiatives.