Sugarcane growers can expect their third cane payment by the end of March.

This was announced by Sugar Industry Tribunal Registrar Moses Brown who confirmed that the third cane payment would be released on March 31.

“The Fiji Sugar Corporation has advised that they will pay out $11 per tonne of cane on March 31, 2022, being the third cane payment bringing the total amount to $62.33 per tonne of cane for the 2021 cane payment,” he said.

“As at third cane payment, the Government contribution to guaranteed cane price is $11.85 per tonne.”

Welcoming the cane payment, Ba sugarcane grower Arun Sharma said he was pleased with the early payment.

“If they are paying us this early then we should be starting our next crushing season early too,” he said.

“A lot of farmers will use this money to prepare for the next harvest so most of this money will go back into the farm.

“I think a lot of farmers want the crushing season to start early because it started really late last year.”