Government has already paid out nearly half a million Fijian dollars to 124 cane farmers, bringing a level of security to cane growers they have never known before, security that all hardworking people deserve for themselves and those they care about.

This was highlighted by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at the 54th Session of the International Sugar Organisation Council.

Bainimarama says that other long‑standing support introduced by the current government is continuing through grants and subsidies for cane planting, subsidies for fertiliser and weedicides and support to farmers to cover cane cartage together with the continued upgrading of cane access roads.

He says that in 2016, tropical Cyclone Winston struck and brought with it difficult and painful lessons where one of Fiji’s major mills sustained irreparable damage, and has been permanently closed.

The Prime Minister says that the secure future of all of the people is tied directly to how seriously we move to address the threat of climate change.

He says that as countries with a vested interest in the health and future of the sugar industry, they all have yet another reason why they must take this growing threat extremely seriously.

Bainimarama says that while Fiji’s Presidency of COP23 may be coming to an end, he assures, that Fiji will remain a committed partner to all of its partners in this global campaign.

He says that their successes will extend far into the future as well, owed to intensifying focus on the modernisation and mechanisation of the industry by putting new equipment and technology directly in the hands of cane farmers.