The minister of Agro-Industry Satish Faugoo visited Cluny and Midlands on Thursday in order to observe the progress made in relation to the Field Operations Regrouping Irrigation Project (FORIP).
Alexandro Mariani, chief of the European Commission was also present at a meeting held with planters in the region. The visit was held in relation with the sensitisation campaign seeking to encourage planters to adhere to the FORIP project.
The project regroups small and medium sugarcane planters so that they obtain facilities in relation to removing stones from their land and irrigational facilities at preferential rates. This project is part of a major component of the sugar reform under the Multi Annual Adaptation Strategy.
Under FORIP, planters are benefiting from several schemes to reduce their production costs, foster productivity and competitiveness in order to better prepare themselves against the 36 per cent fall in sugar prices and the gradual removal of sugar protocol.
Works under the FORIP scheme started in 2007 at Queen Victoria, FUEL and were welcomed in a positive manner. In December 2009, a total area of 3,044 hectares spread over several regions was subject to the stone removal process.