Cane growers unhappy with pay rate

Sugarcane growers are set to receive a total of $68.04 per tonne for the 2025 cane pay­ment following a Government top­up to the third cane payment.

The Sugar Industry Tribunal (SIT), on the advice of its account­ant and in accordance with the Sugar Industry Master Award, certified that the net share of cane proceeds received as at February 28, 2026, stood at $71,340,930.

This is equivalent to $57.97 per tonne of cane.

Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) had earlier advised that it would pay out $0.84 per tonne as the third cane payment, bringing the total to $57.97 per tonne.

Following a meeting between Government and sugar industry stakeholders, Government agreed to top up the third cane payment to $10.91 per tonne.

Government has indicated that the process to secure the additional funding will be com­pleted by April 20, 2026.

FSC has advised that it would pay out $10.91 per tonne on April 20, 2026, as the third cane payment.

This will bring the total payment to $68.04 per tonne of cane paid to growers for the 2025 season.

Farmers disappointed

The National Farmers Union (NFU) expressed their disappoint­ed with the $10.91 per tonne an­nouncement, as their expectation of around $16 per tonne was not met by the Sugar Tribunal Board.

NFU president, Surendra Lal, de­scribed the payment 'below their expectation' and one which would be remembered as a payment of long overdue.

Mr Lal claimed the Ministry of Sugar, SIT and the FSC breached their payment agreement which was to ensure payment paid to farmers before March 31.

He said for the 2025 crushing sea­son, farmers were owed $28 in the three pending payments which would bring the total payment amount to $108.

"From my understanding and tip, sugar was not exported on time which delayed the payment and sources tell me it was sent from Lautoka for exports recently," he said.

Mr Lal said April 20, was set to accommodate the payment of this sugar shipment to be received to be later disbursed to farmers by the date announced. He urged for diligence in the op­eration and revival of the Fiji Sug­ar Marketing Company Limited which was abolished by the Fiji ­First Government.

"Our representatives, the sugar­cane grower's council has failed the farmers with liars and failure to provide sufficient explanation on the third cane payment to farm­ers," he claimed.

There are fears that the fourth cane payment could be delayed as well because the May payment pe­riod totally depended on Govern­ment top-up.

Mr Lal said delays and failure of the relevant authorities to ac­knowledge the financial concerns of its farmers could demoralise them to leave the industry, avoid­ing production.

He requested that Government and loan agencies not to deduct the entire loan amount from one spe­cific cane payment and to have a 50 per cent deduction from April and May respectively.

"We want farmers to take home some fruits of their hard work with sufficient income left in their pockets to cater for their financial needs," he said.

Frustration continues

Mr Lal revealed he received sev­eral calls from frustrated farmers last Friday after the announce­ment.

"I have been receiving a lot of calls from farmers on the disap­pointment of the cane payment delay and amount offered for pay­ment" he said.

A sugarcane farming cooperative president from Bucaisau sector in Labasa, Firoz Ali, said the payment would not sufficient for farmers to cater for their needs.

Mr Ali said the sugarcane indus­try is dying and seriousness must be focused by Government in this industry to revive from its losses.

He added every farmer deserved better and timely payments be­cause if staff received timely in­come why can't farmers.