A Sabeto canegrower said Government’s decision to reinstate the guaranteed price of $85 per tonne of cane for the 2021 crushing season, instead of the $54.36 forecasted earlier, was a huge boost for the industry.
“This is really good news, we can now concentrate fully on contributing towards a successful harvesting season,” Sarvan Kumar said.
“We thank the Government for keeping its promise to canefarmers.”
The 61-year-old Gang 39 Nasasa sardar said the five farmers in his gang were anticipating a combined harvest of 1000 tonnes.
“We have finally managed to overcome the important issue of labour availability.
“Cane harvesting in my gang has started after some unemployed people in the area agreed to harvest at $20 per tonne, unlike the villagers from Nagado, who had submitted some really unreasonable demands.”
Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum announced in the 2021-2022 Budget last Friday that Government would extend the minimum guaranteed price of $85 per tonne this season with an allocation of $72 million to the Sugar Ministry, up from the $53.6 million in 2020-2021.
