SUGARCANE farmers in the West are demanding immediate transparency and consultation following recent sweeping policy shifts within the industry.
Yaladro Farmers’ Cooperative president Rajendra Raghlu said key stakeholders continued to make critical decisions without consulting the growers, who served as the industry’s backbone.
While the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) recently approved increased rates for mechanical harvesters and lorry cartage, Mr Raghlu highlighted significant limitations.
Notably, the lorry cartage rate increase applies exclusively to operators transporting harvested cane from Rakiraki to Rarawai. This restriction risks excluding operators working outside this specific jurisdiction from receiving the financial adjustment.
“Farmers need a clear understanding of whether this is fair to everybody,” he said.
“Machine rates are being given, but nothing has been said for the lorries. These are some of the dilemmas the gangs are facing while trying to fill out their MOGA rates.”
Mr Raghlu said his sector was not in favour of a boycott and wanted to begin harvesting as soon as possible, but critical operational issues remain unresolved by the Government and the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC).
With the announcement yesterday of the national budget, growers are looking for long-term incentives to remain in the industry.
Beyond the immediate harvesting crisis, farmers are seeking relief from land rental reassessments, which occur every five years under 99-year State leases.
Over a 99-year period, land rentals are reassessed 19 times at 6 per cent of the Unimproved Capital Value (UCV). Mr Raghlu urged the Government to review this legislative framework to lower rising production costs and introduce targeted incentives for young growers.
Mr Raghlu said the FSC had failed to perform effectively for decades, passing the financial burden directly onto growers. He called for an immediate, comprehensive general audit of the corporation to identify systemic inefficiencies.
A primary example of this failure was the collapse of the rail transport system, which forced Tavua growers to transition to expensive lorry transport due to deteriorating locomotives, rail carts, and mill infrastructure.
Mr Raghlu concluded by noting that while farmers deeply appreciated the government subsidies for fertiliser, chemicals, and the newly-announced fuel support, a comprehensive, consultative overhaul was required to ensure the long-term sustainability of Fiji’s sugar industry.
