The Sugar Ministry is commencing the New Year with a determined commitment to revive the sugar industry, unveiling strategies to boost cane production, attract young farmers, and diversify revenue streams, reported FBCNews.
Minister Charan Jeath Singh has outlined ambitious goals, emphasizing the imperative of enticing farmers back to the land and rendering sugar cane cultivation economically viable once again. Singh has articulated the implementation of various initiatives designed to make sugar cane farming more appealing.
Singh stated, “We are ready to support any farmer willing to return to the farm. If they obtain approval from TLTB or the land department for a new lease, indicating they can come back to the farm, we will provide them with 30% of the premium charged by TLTB or the lands department, or 7500 to assist the new farmers.”
Acknowledging the current challenges faced by the industry, Singh pointed to a decline in cane production, plummeting from 4.2 million tonnes to the current level of approximately 1.6 million tonnes. He underscored that the priority is to elevate sugar cane production from the present 1.6 million tonnes to 3.5 million tonnes in the coming years. Additionally, Singh expressed a commitment to reestablishing or rebuilding the Rakiraki sugar mill.
By concentrating efforts on both production enhancement and diversification, Singh articulated the ministry’s objective to rejuvenate the sugar sector and ensure its long-term sustainability.
