Opposition leader welcomes $85 per tonne guaranteed cane price

Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu has welcomed the Government's decision to guarantee a sugarcane price of $85 per tonne for the 2026 crop season, saying the move will provide much-needed certainty for farmers preparing for the crushing season.

Mr Seruiratu said the announcement would bring relief to cane farmers and their families as they continue to face rising fuel, harvesting, transportation and production costs.

"The guaranteed price will help ease some of the financial pressures currently being experienced across the sector," he said in a statement yesterday.

The Opposition leader said he had written to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka last week seeking a meeting to discuss concerns surrounding the 2026 sugar crushing season and broader issues affecting the industry.

He said the correspondence highlighted the importance of the sugar sector to thousands of cane farmers, mill workers, transport operators and their families, and stressed the need for urgent engagement with key stakeholders.

Mr Seruiratu said concerns raised by farmers and industry stakeholders about cane payments appeared to have been acknowledged through the Government's latest announcement.

While welcoming the guaranteed price, he said it should not distract from the wider challenges facing the industry.

He pointed to declining cane production, rising operational costs, labour shortages, transportation difficulties and uncertainty over the sector's long-term viability as issues requiring ongoing attention.

"The sugar industry remains a vital pillar of our economy and an important source of livelihood for thousands of Fijian families," Mr Seruiratu said.

He called on Government, industry stakeholders, landowners, mill operators, transport providers and farmers to work together on practical and sustainable measures to restore confidence and growth in the sector.

Mr Seruiratu also congratulated cane farmers for their resilience and dedication and wished them a safe and successful 2026 crushing season.