Twenty-nine sugar cane farmers in Labasa and Seaqaqa today received grants from the Ministry of Sugar to help them with kick start their cane farming business.

Director Sugar Sanjay Kumar says the grant comes under government’s New Farmers Assistance Scheme aimed at encouraging more people to take up cane farming.

Kumar says there is a declining number of farmers in the sugar sector and the grant will help new and emerging farmers.

The grant will cover the land acquisition cost as well as fertiliser cost for five hectares of farmland.

Once the farm is up and running, farmers will be entitled to other subsidies.

29 more farmers in the Western division will receive their grants tomorrow.