The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is working with the 83 Islands Distillery Vanuatu company, to encourage more farmers to take up sugarcane farming.
The project also aims to promote sugarcane as a potential cash crop in Vanuatu.
A sugarcane farmers’ association was established during a meeting with the DARD, the 83 Islands Distillery and the sugarcane farmers of Efate last month.
The Acting Provincial Agriculture Officer for SHEFA Province, Fernand Massing, said the establishment of such associations as Efate Sugarcane Farmers will ensure easy access to assistance from the DARD or any other relevant government departments, should the association make such requests in the future.
“It is important to have an established body in place to group the sugarcane farmers to work together to increase the production of sugarcane on Efate as it is a new crop for many farmers to grow in huge quantity.”
The newly elected chairperson of the Efate Sugarcane Farmers Association (ESFA) is Japen Kapalu, one of the key sugarcane farmers at Rentapao including other sugarcane farmers who are part of the association.
“This is the first ever sugarcane farmers’ association established on Efate as far as I know and this is a huge step for us sugarcane farmers.
“We strongly believe that with the association, the government will recognise us as sugarcane farmers who are targeting a specific crop to supply a domestic market.
“Sugarcane is a new crop for many farmers on Efate and even the whole country in terms of growing it for commercial purposes,” Kapalu said.
The ESFA convened its first meeting last week.
“We have discussed some important issues such as the registration of the association, producing a logo, stamp and receipt books and other important matters.
“We also provide ideas as to how existing and key sugarcane farmers on Efate can assist each other especially interested farmers with planting materials.
“Other sugarcane farmers that wish to affiliate with the ESFA will have to consult the ESFA Executive committee and with a membership fee of VT2,000, together we will work to elevate the sugarcane industry to another level,” Chairperson of ESFA, Kapalu, said.
Photo supplied Caption: ESFA Chairperson, Japen Kapalu harvesting sugarcane at his farm