For Lovu sector sugarcane farmer Nand Kishore, the delayed third cane payment is not relief — it is a reminder of just how fragile farming life in the Western Division has become.
Managing a 13-acre cane farm, the veteran grower says the $10.90 payout offers little comfort to farmers already battered by pest infestations and the destruction left behind by Tropical Cyclone Vaianu.
“Too little,” he said plainly, describing the payment against the scale of losses across the region.
Recovery for him is no longer seasonal — it is daily survival.
With 16 years in the industry, Mr Kishore said termite infestations had been steadily eroding his yields despite regular checks by the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF). Once producing more than 400 tonnes annually, his output has declined significantly, forcing him to rethink his livelihood.
That rethink led him to vegetables.
He began selling produce at local markets and through social media, even offering free delivery to areas such as Qalitu, Paipai and Vitogo for orders above $10. But when Cyclone Vaianu arrived, it flattened both crops and hope.
“The cyclone has damaged my crop,” he said.
Mr Kishore also questioned the adequacy of weather warnings issued before the storm, saying clearer information could have helped farmers prepare better.
While his home survived, his fields did not.
Now, he is calling on the Fiji Sugar Corporation to reconsider cane payments, arguing that many farmers have lost everything and urgently need support to recover.
Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj has echoed those concerns, urging Government to expedite the third cane payment for Western Division growers.
He said farmers could not afford to wait, with fields underwater and homes damaged, calling the situation one of urgent need rather than delay.
