Farmers losing $3.5m a week as cane harvest delays continue

Farmers are losing about $3.5 million every week in potential income due to delays in delivering cane to mills, the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) says.

FSC chairman Nitya Reddy said the loss stems from cane not being harvested and supplied to mills that have already been ready for crushing since July 1.

"Even at a conservative crushing rate, farmers are being denied access to income of nearly $3.5 million per week, amount­ing to a cumulative $11 million over three weeks," Mr Reddy said.

He said continued delays in harvesting would push operations further into the rainy season, making cutting and trans­port more difficult and increasing costs for all stakeholders.

FSC warned that prolonged delays could also reduce cane quality and lead to high­er losses in sugar recovery, based on expe­rience from the 2025 season when late har­vesting resulted in lower Tonnes of Cane to Tonnes of Sugar (TCTS) performance and reduced returns.

The corporation also raised concerns about wider economic impacts, including pressure on cash flow for growers, sea­sonal workers, and the national economy.

It said approximately 400 seasonal em­ployees were currently awaiting the start of crushing, losing about $125,000 in wag­es per week, while FSC continues to incur operational preparation costs.

On sugar stocks, FSC said local supplies had been fully exhausted, forcing imports of 635 tonnes, with a total requirement of 4300 tonnes to meet domestic and regional demand.

It also warned that a 9200-tonne export commitment to the United States due for shipment in mid-August and delivery by mid-September was now under threat, which could affect future market access.

Mr Reddy said FSC accepts operation­al challenges within the industry but stressed that broader issues, including cane quality, ratooning cycles, and grower productivity, must also be addressed.

He urged farmers to begin harvesting im­mediately, saying delays were increasing losses and threatening industry stability.

"FSC once again appeals to all growers to commence harvesting without further delay," Mr Reddy said.

Labasa Chamber warns of wider eco­nomic impact

Labasa Chamber of Commerce and In­dustries president Vinesh Dayal said the sugar industry remains central to the lo­cal economy and its impact extends well beyond farmers and mill workers.

"The sugar industry has historically been the backbone of the Labasa economy, and its contribution extends well beyond the farmers and mill workers directly in­volved," Mr Dayal said.

"When the mill is not operating, the ef­fects are felt across the entire commu­nity, including retailers, service provid­ers, transport operators, and many small businesses that depend on the circulation of income generated by the industry," he said

"Labasa is nothing without the sugar in­dustry," he added.