Over 30,000 people, including 2,000 sugarcane farmers will now benefit from the upgraded road and drainage work in the cane-farming areas of Koronubu, Drasa and Malolo in the Western Division.

This has been made possible through European Union funded Rural Access Roads and Associated Infrastructure project.

Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation for the Pacific, Christoph Wagner says the rehabilitation of roads and drainage is an important element in the EU’s ongoing support to the Fijian sugar sector.

Wagner says farmers can use the road to transport sugar, but it will also be important for them to access markets for other products and will be beneficial for education, health and other community purposes.

The project officials are working closely with the Fiji Sugar Corporation, Ministry of Sugar Industry and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in trying to address transportation challenges for farmers in the sugarcane belt.