Sugar farmers paying the price for system failures, says Opposition MP

Opposition Member of Parliament Viam Pillay warns that the sugar industry is collapsing under Government neglect.

Speaking in Parliament today, Mr Pillay said agriculture remained the “heartbeat of the nation”, but was being treated as an afterthought.

He revealed that 93,000 tonnes of cane went unharvested last season, describing it as clear evidence that the system supporting farmers was failing.

"Mill breakdowns, rail inaction, and poor leadership had cost farmers millions of dollars, particularly in the Western Division.

“When the cane sits in the sun because a boiler is broken, the weight drops, then the farmer is hit with rent and penalties for delays that were not his fault,” he said.

He called for compensation for affected farmers and a waiver of penalties during mill disruptions.

Mr Pillay also urged the Government to roll out disaster relief following recent floods that damaged farms, access roads, and crops.

He also called for urgent investment in infrastructure before the next crushing season.

He further raised concerns about more than 1000 cane leases due to expire by 2030, warning that instability would hurt production.

"We need commercialization through partnership

"It is vital and in our nation's interest, that these leases be renewed so there is stability in the trade production."

“We want a Fiji where hard work is equally valued and where fragile decision-making is replaced by permanent solutions.”

He claimed nearly half the population was struggling financially.

“Fifty per cent of our people are either below the poverty line or struggling just above. This is not a number in a report, it is a confession of failure,” he said.