MINISTER OF SUGAR INDUSTRY OPENS THE INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

16 March 2023, Tanoa Waterfront Hotel, Lautoka

The Honorable Minister for Sugar Industry, Charan Jeath Singh, officially opened a one-day workshop on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) that was organized by the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF).

This workshop was an interactive session for invited stakeholders to gather information and ideas for formulation of a concept note on INM that will be submitted to seek funding from Green Climate Fund through the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

INM aims to benefit the sugar industry through improvement of soil nutrition that will boost sugar cane production. INM involves integrating chemical fertilizers with organic manures, green manuring and apply to the soil to improve productivity.

Invited government ministries, private sectors, statutory bodies, academic institutions, sugar industry institutions and sugar cane growers were part of the interactive workshop to share their views on the INM.

In his opening address, Hon. Singh thanked the SRIF for organizing the workshop as the concept of nutrient management per se is an area of focus in line with his aspirations about the industry. Hon. Singh further stated that soils in cane belt areas are sick and nutrient management is the answer to improve soil productivity that will increase cane production. The Hon. Minster stated that the soils in sugarcane belts have become very acidic, whereby, the pH mostly ranges from 3.2 to 6.0. It has been observed that in Viti Levu about 83 per cent of soils under sugarcane are acidic (pH <6), whereas, more than 95 per cent of soils in Vanua Levu are acidic.

Mr. Singh stated that the coalition government is committed to the sugar industry. Funding of capital programs supporting the sugar industry will continue as well as ensuring the implementation of other plans are in place for the industry such as establishment of ethanol & sugar refinery plant, increase mechanization and incentivizing high producing growers including assisting growers in acquiring and applying liming to sugar cane farms to improve soil nutrients.

The Chief Executive Officer of SRIF, Professor Santiago Mahimairaja, stated in his presentation that soils are losing nutrients due to factors such as mono-cropping, burning and ratooning. Around 70 percent of sugar cane crops are more than three years ratoon. This has contributed to increasing soil acidity and reduces crop productivity.

The introduction of this INM concept through this workshop is the first for Fiji. The SRIF will work on developing the concept note on INM and will submit to UNEP to secure funding from Green Climate Fund. This INM initiative solely focuses on improving soil productivity to improve cane production.   

Part of the workshop program was the launching of first ever Sugar Research Institute of Fiji newsletter that will be published monthly. Hon. Minister for Sugar Industry officiated the launching of the newsletter.