Canefarmers on Vanua Levu say the $10.31 per tonne fourth payment for the 2020 season is “shocking.”
Growers said they were disappointed because it was not enough to help them prepare for the 2021 season . Labasa farmer Mahendra Prasad said harvesting costs had escalated in recent times.
“This is too low and harvesting starts in July so in the next few weeks we need to look for labourers, set up their camps, buy their food ration and pay for other costs,” he said.
“And this $10.31 per tonne is not enough at all.” National Farmers Union president Surendra Lal said growers were expecting about $20 per tonne.
“This payment prepares the farmers for the upcoming season in which they bring in labourers, prepare food ration and basically get things started but this $10.31 will not help at all,” he said.
“I have spoken to the farmers and they are not happy because they won’t be able to prepare well with that kind of payment.”
When contacted, Fiji Sugar Corporation CEO Bhan Singh said after the payment, farmers would have received $70.01 of the guaranteed $85 per tonne.
He said the remaining $14.99 would be paid out to farmers in October, completing the guaranteed price of $85 per tonne for 2020.
