Ba cane lorry driver Atish Kumar says the $15.15 per tonne fourth cane payment is good for the farmers, but not for the drivers.

He said the cartage rates levied by drivers would remain the same despite the increase in fuel price.

“You can’t say that the fourth cane payment is not good because it is, but what about the lorry drivers?” he said.

“Our rate will still be the same even though we have to pay more for fuel.”

Mr Kumar said the growers would need to have their cane payments increased to meet the demands of the current rise in cost of living.

“The fuel is not the only thing that is increasing,” he said.

“I am a farmer too and I have to look at the labour cost, the food cost and now the fuel cost.

“All of that keeps increasing. The only way farmers can really meet these costs is if they increase our cane payment.

“Having $80 to $85 per tonne every year is not enough anymore, especially this year.”