All three Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) sugar mills remained idle today as cane growers continued their boycott, insisting they will not begin harvesting until their concerns over cane prices and industry reforms are addressed.
National Farmers Union (NFU) General Secretary Mahendra Chaudhry said the shutdown demonstrated the strength of growers’ resolve despite FSC’s announcement that crushing would commence.
“The message is clear. As of mid-day today none of the mills began operating as announced by FSC.”
Chaudhry said growers remained united in demanding a fair forecast cane price and delivery payment, rejecting claims that a majority of farmers were ready to begin harvesting.
“Farmers are standing united in their demand for a just and fair Forecast price and Delivery Payment. This is despite the claim in today’s Fiji Times that 51 percent of growers have signed MOGAs and are ready to harvest.”
He also claimed some FSC field officers were attempting to pressure farmers into signing Memorandums of Gang Agreement (MOGAs) and commencing harvesting.
“I am pleased at the unity in the cane belt considering that some FSC field staff are going around threatening and intimidating growers to sign MOGAs and start harvest.”
Chaudhry said he had written to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, urging him to intervene as Chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Sugar to resolve the impasse.
“No one should blame the farmers for the stand they have taken to delay harvest until such time as their grievances are heard and acted upon.”
He said the NFU had sought dialogue with the Sugar Ministry and FSC but those requests had been ignored.
Among the union’s proposals is a $60 per tonne delivery payment within the Government’s existing guaranteed minimum cane price of $85 per tonne, which the NFU says would not require any additional government funding.
The union is also calling for the guaranteed minimum cane price to be increased to $110 per tonne, arguing the current $85 per tonne guarantee has remained unchanged since 2018 despite significant increases in production costs.
“The $85 per tonne guaranteed price dated back to 2018 – eight years ago. It was due for revision as costs had risen astronomically since then.”
Chaudhry also told the Prime Minister that the sugar industry lost $43 million last season because of what he described as FSC’s incompetence, mismanagement and negligence.
“FSC must be held accountable for this massive loss.”
He further criticised reforms introduced under the previous administration, saying the dismantling of key sugar industry institutions in 2009 removed the checks and balances that had protected growers’ interests.
“The checks and balances that existed to hold FSC accountable were effectively removed. It left the growers completely at the mercy of FSC and the Sugar Ministry.”
