Maintaining access roads to cane farms in Labasa has become one of the biggest expenses facing growers.
Bucalevu cane farmer in Labasa Mohammed Aiyum Khan said the price of maintaining the road had increased by $40.
“Last year contractors charged around $140 to $150 to repair the road. This year they are charging about $180,” he said.
Mr Khan said roads in hilly areas required repairs every year so harvested cane could be transported to the mill.
He said the Fiji Sugar Corporation had reduced its road maintenance grant from about $800 to $900 last year to around $500 this year.
“The gravel you see on the road is all we could afford with that money.”
He said farmers also had to meet bank loan repayments and lease payments regardless of whether they had a good harvest.
He called on the Government to increase subsidies for road maintenance, replanting and transport, saying growers in remote areas faced much higher operating costs.
“We have the capacity to produce more cane, but getting it from the farm to the mill is very expensive,” he said.
He said continued government support was essential to ensure cane farming remained viable for future generations.
