Transcript
The nearly 5 million US dollar package wipes deductions like rent from the next cane payout and waives the debt on special small loans offered after Cyclone Winston.
The Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the assistance will ensure the growers can prepare for the next season.
"This is not by way of a loan, this is by way of a grant to ensure that the cane farmers actually are able to have enough funds to be able to deploy as much funds as possible for the next cane season, to ensure they have enough funds for their planting and of course for themselves."
Fifteen months ago Cyclone Winston directly hit the top of Fiji's sugar cane belt, causing 80 million US dollars worth of damage to the country's mainstay industry.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum says the package shows it is committed to fundamental change in the sector which has suffered decades of neglect.
"We would like to again appeal to the farmers that here is a government again assisting you. Do not get misled by people making false promises, people who are building castles in the sky, without having any note of reality."
The minister accused some politicians and media of whipping up a frenzy over the sugar cane industry.
But the National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad has hit back saying the help should have come last year.
"It is a political gimmick and it is politics of panic because what the farmers have been saying over the last eight or nine years is exactly what this government is now trying to do as a band aid measure."
Professor Prasad says the announcement is not a long-term solution for the farmers who've already had nearly three quarters of their income deducted as debt, fertiliser, rent and harvesting expenses in previous payouts for the season.
While growers are not dismissing the assistance, there's some puzzlement it did not come earlier and concern it's not fair.
Pushp Dass, who represents cane growers in hard hit Rakiraki, says some growers have already paid their rent in cash and they should also be compensated.
And he says many growers never took up the offer of an interest free loan.
"There should have been a clear indication that it will be waived and there should have given it to everybody that was affected by Cyclone Winston. It's just that some people decided to take it and some did not. If it is a grant now, they should pay to everybody that was affected by Cyclone Winston."
While announcing the package Mr Sayed-Khaiyum singled out the Fiji Times as a mischief maker over sugar industry issues.
The paper's editor Fred Wesley says it's unfortunate the Times has been attacked again.
He and the paper's publisher are already facing sedition charges.
Mr Wesley says the paper presents the news fairly and objectively, allowing the farmers and their industry a voice.