Government raises manual harvesting payment from $3 to $5 a tonne

The Government will increase the subsidy paid to manual sugarcane harvesters from $3 to $5 a tonne in a bid to boost harvesting activity and restore confidence in Fiji's sugar industry.

The announcement was made following a meeting of Parliament's Special Committee on the Sugar Industry on Friday, where members discussed immediate and long-term measures to support growers and improve the industry's viability.

The committee also confirmed it had received assurances from National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry that cane farmers were not on strike.

The committee said restoring farmers' confidence remained a priority and stressed the need for clearer communication on Government assistance already available to cane growers.

In a letter to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Mr Chaudhry said "cane farmers are not on strike", with the committee noting that crushing was continuing in the Western and Northern divisions.

As part of efforts to encourage harvesting, the Government will increase the payment to manual harvesters from $3 to $5 per tonne.

The committee said the increase recognised the contribution of manual harvesters, whose work had often gone unrecognised.

It also raised concerns about the safety of farmers who wanted to harvest their cane but feared retaliation, particularly damage to standing crops.

Following consultations with the Ministry of Policing, the committee said the Fiji Police Force would conduct more frequent patrols in cane-growing areas to reassure farmers and protect their crops.

Committee members will travel to the Western Division on July 8 and 9 to meet farmers, the Fiji Sugar Corporation and other stakeholders to discuss challenges facing the industry and gather recommendations on improving its long-term sustainability.

The committee said it would continue meeting to discuss the future direction of the sugar industry, including diversification initiatives.