Sugarcane gang leaders in Lautoka and Ba are calling on the cane forecast price for the 2021 season to be announced so farmers can work out their costs and allow gangs to hold their annual general meetings (AGM).

Gang leaders also said COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings were hampering their preparation plans.

A requirement for making a Memorandum of Gang Agreement (MOGA) between canecutters and farmers was for gang leaders to hold AGMs before the start of a new crushing season.

Drasa sector, Lautoka gang leader Phillip Sanjay Kumar said they were yet to hold their AGM with the seven members of their group.

“We can’t do that right now so we don’t know how to complete the MOGA form,” he said.

Naloto sector, Ba farmer Arun Sharma said the AGM was a vital part of their preparation process.

“After choosing all our committee members and leaders, we then work out how many tonnes of cane each member will be able to produce,” he said.

“From there, we work out our earnings and the money we will need to pay labourers and our transport costs. Most of us have not done that.”

Sugar Ministry permanent secretary Yogesh Karan said the 2021 forecast price would be announced soon.

He also said the crushing season could be pushed back for the Lautoka and Rarawai mills.