Litia Cava 
[Photo: FILE]
The Standing Committee on Economic Affairs is calling for the Sugarcane Growers’ Fund to be progressively transformed into an agricultural commercial bank to improve access to finance for farmers.
Committee Chair Sakiusa Tubuna said the proposed model could expand financial services, provide affordable credit and support agricultural diversification.
The review found that cane growers are facing growing financial pressure from rising production costs, lease renewal premiums, labour shortages and the high cost of modern farming equipment.
He points out that these challenges are affecting the accessibility and responsiveness of financial assistance provided by the Fund.
The Committee also raised concerns about the removal of direct grower representation from the Fund’s Board following legislative amendments.
Tubuna states this has raised questions about grower confidence, transparency, accountability and stakeholder engagement.
The Committee is also calling for the Sugarcane Growth Fund Act of 1984 to be modernised to strengthen governance, improve flexibility and support innovation and diversification.
Tubuna adds that transforming the Fund into an agricultural commercial bank would allow it to offer more financial products while maintaining its core support for cane growers.
The Committee has recommended continued legislative reform, stronger grower representation, better access to affordable financing and greater support for mechanisation.
The report has been tabled in Parliament, with debate on its contents to take place at a future sitting.
