Sugar cane farmers consulted on best farming management practices
Best management sugar cane farming practices was the topic of discussion among sugar cane stakeholders during a one day consultation at the Rarawai and Penang Cane Producers Association office in Ba.
The Pacific-American Climate Fund (PACAM) project involved stakeholders from the Ministry of Sugar, Ministry of Agriculture, Fiji Sugar Corporation, Sugar Cane Growers Council, Sugar Research Institute of Fiji, South Pacific Fertilizers, Rarawai and Penang Cane Producers Association, and the Sugarcane Farmers of Rarawai (Ba).
The workshop held last week looked at the options in adopting sustainable practices amongst sugar cane belt communities.
Research has shown that current sugar cane practices have led to sediment and chemical runoffs into the Fiji’s river systems which have affected Fiji’s largest reef system, the Great Sea Reef.
PACAM project manager, Vinesh Kumar said the workshop was a step in the right direction and laid the platform to test the concept with stakeholders.
“The stakeholders provided an insight on the sugarcane farming methods adopted in the past, the current practice and what the practice should be in future for sustainability in terms of changing climate regime and discussions were held on the setup of model sugarcane farms that would showcase the adoption of better management practice and climate resilient farms,” he said.
Drawing from WWF-Pacific’s previous experience on Fiji’s sugar industry, two model sugar cane farms will be established in the district of Nailaga, Ba.
“Two sugarcane farms will be selected and developed into a model farm that would be used to showcase better management practices, moving towards climate resilient farms. Once the farms are selected, development of farm management plan will follow. There will be a stakeholder workshop to be held in September to provide an update and way forward for demonstration of management practices,” Kumar added.
The production activities for the model farms will then be implemented according to the work plan collectively agreed to by stakeholders.
Post-trial assessment will then follow, with results and feedback documented in a report and a toolkit that will be disseminated to other farmers for capacity building and replication of the model methodology.
The ultimate outcome would be moving towards Bonsucro certification that will help reduce the environmental and social impact of sugarcane production whilst recognizing the need for economic viability.
The certification is expected to boost production and productivity resulting in increasing monetary return to the farmer and the community.
Other benefits will include the restoration of a healthy Great Sea Reef which is the third largest reef system in the Southern Hemisphere, which in turn enhances sources of livelihood for the communities in Nailaga, and the country as a whole through tourism, food sources, and biodiversity.
The consultation is a first of four initial steps that will be undertaken.
