CANE harvesting and lorry operators are calling for sugar industry pricing to be taken away from the Fiji Commerce Commission and returned to the sugar tribunal system.
This after a consultation meeting whereby operators discussed rising fuel costs, high operating expenses and the future of cane harvesting ahead of the new crushing season.
The Vanua Levu Cane Harvesting and Lorry Operator Dewan Chand said the cost of running harvesting operations had become too high, mainly because of fuel price increases and transport expenses.
“When we add everything, the cost is now more than $60 per tonne. This is not sustainable,” he said.
Mr Chand said total costs for harvesting and cartage had now pushed beyond sustainable levels for operators.
“We are saying this should go back to a tribunal system that deals specifically with the sugar industry.”
Seasonal politician Surendra Lal said the industry needed consistency in how issues were handled and raised concern about changes in representation at meetings.
Mr Lal said long-standing problems were not being properly resolved because discussions lacked continuity.
“We have been raising these issues for years. When new people keep coming to meetings, it becomes difficult to follow through on decisions.”
He said operators were not against regulation but wanted a fair system that reflected real costs faced in the field.
“Fuel price increases had made harvesting and cartage more expensive, putting pressure on both operators and farmers.”
He said there was no way farmers and operators could continue like this without some form of relief from operators.
