Fiji Sugar Corporation executive chairman Abdul Khan said land issues remain the common subject that farmers have complained about.

He said this was evident when Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama visited the western division visiting various sectors last week.

Mr Khan reiterated this issue while speaking to farmers at Nawaicoba, Nadi on Saturday.

He said, “One of the things we have is land issues, where some of the farmers, got land but it belongs to someone else.

“We have faced this issue on a number of occasions. It’s a matter of making sure we get the right farmers who own the land so they can be able to produce sugarcane.”

Mr Khan said there was an obligation for farmers to pay the land rent to the land owners on time.

“When you don’t pay the land rent to the land owners, those land owners are relying on that payment to put bread and butter on their table,” he said.

“So when you don’t make a payment you are actually starving him and his family the income to put bread and butter on his table. It’s important you make those land rent payment.

Payments

He said FSC was looking at  increasing the payment not only to farmers but also landowners as well.

“They have given us the Land to allow us to grow Sugarcane. They are as much a stakeholder as you as farmer and me as a miller.

“So we have to make sure we all benefit from this. So stop complaining for each other and see what you can do because we are together on this.”

Diwali payment

Mr Khan added that the Diwali payment was discussed with Prime Minister and after consultation with PM, he agreed since he is the Minister for Sugar.

“We make the diwali payment. There is nothing sinister about it, so don’t create it as if there was something sinister to do with payment.

Harvesting and transport

FSC executive chairman Abdul Khan said they deal with harvesting and transport, as they manage harvesting and transport.

“We control harvesting and transport, the issues where we try and to deal with at the moment is when we say that harvest and transport will cost $10.00,” he said.

“What happens is some of the farmers don’t pay $10.00 they go and poach the labourers from other places to pay for their share that has been allocated for that area.”

Edited By: Stella Moresio

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