The Minister for Sugar Charan Jeath Singh says that repair works of cane access roads are avoided during rainy seasons which span from November to April.
Speaking in Parliament, Singh said this precaution is taken largely to prevent the road upgrades from being damaged and washed away by heavy rains and floods, which explains that repairs of cane access roads are yet to commence.
Responding to an Oral Question on how the Ministry is ensuring cane access roads are maintained well before the harvesting season, Singh said to ensure the best value for money, maintenance activities usually begin in May and extend into the early stages to upgrade 3,000km of roads and supply of culverts and repair with an allocated budget of $2 million.
Singh said on average, the Ministry allocates approximately $500 per km of the road which is often insufficient for comprehensive maintenance given the impacts of climate change that Fiji is experiencing now.
He added that the continued effort between the contractors, farmers, and the field staff underscore our commitment to upholding higher standards and delivering effective results in the maintenance of cane access roads.
