Govt maintains $5m fuel support for sugarcane farmers

The Government will maintain its full $5 million fuel support package for sugarcane farmers despite a sharp drop in diesel prices from $4.58 to $3.39 per litre.

Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna made the announcement in Suva yesterday, alongside new measures aimed at improving harvesting capacity ahead of the 2026 crushing season.

He said the decision to retain the fuel assistance was aimed at ensuring stability for growers despite changing fuel market conditions.

“Despite the recent reduction in fuel prices, Government has decided to maintain the full $5 million fuel support package,” Mr Tunabuna said.

The Ministry is also introducing a new $3 per tonne manual harvesting subsidy, excluding cane cut through inmate labour, to ease pressure on growers facing limited harvesting capacity.

Mr Tunabuna said the initiative is designed to support timely harvesting and delivery of cane to mills.

“This initiative is intended to ease the burden on growers, encourage manual harvesting where required, and ensure that cane is harvested and delivered to the mills in a timely manner,” he said.

The $85 per tonne guaranteed cane price for 2026 remains unchanged, along with existing support measures including fertiliser and weedicide subsidies, cane access road upgrades, lease renewal assistance and new planting support for the 2026–2027 financial year.

Mr Tunabuna urged growers to sign their Memorandum of Gang Agreement (MOGA) and begin cane delivery without delay, warning that slow harvesting would affect mill operations, cane quality and farmer income.

“We cannot allow politics to dictate the future of our beloved sugarcane farmers and the sugar industry,” he said.

He also confirmed that Fiji Sugar Corporation continues to provide a $10 per litre fuel rebate to farmers in addition to Government support.