FIJI sugarcane growers are set to receive a final wash-up payment of $6.06 per tonne, pushing the total payout for the 2025 season to $86.94 per tonne of cane and surpassing the guaranteed $85 threshold.
To support growers through tough economic conditions and severe drought, the government contributed a total top-up of $22 per tonne across the third, fourth and final payments.
The Sugar Industry Tribunal said in a statement that the final cane pay for the 2025 season is $0.90 per tonne bring the total payout to grower from the sale of sugar and molasses to $64.94 per tonne of cane for the 2025 season.
The Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) confirmed that it will pay out a total of $6.06 per tonne of cane on October 30 being the final cane payment, made of 90 cents of the final cane payment 2025 season and $5.16 Government top up, bringing the total amount paid out to growers to $86.94 per tonne of cane for the 2025 season.
Sugar Industry Tribunal Registrar Timothy Brown highlighted the impact of the State support on the farming community.
“The government has taken an unprecedented step to support the sugar industry by topping up the third cane payment by $10.07, the fourth cane payment by $6.77 per tonne, and the final cane payment by $5.16 per tonne,” he said.
“This exceeds the guaranteed price of $85 per tonne, which is a testament to the commitment of government to the sugar industry, particularly the farmers.”
Alongside financial assistance, authorities are tackling sharp production drops caused by prolonged dry weather.
Ministry of Agriculture operations director Praneel Naidu stressed that climate mitigation measures are already in progress.
“Across the sugar-producing nations, we have seen steep declines in sugarcane production.
“We have got a disaster team in place who are looking into issues on how we can help farmers, including irrigation solutions and rehabilitation plans.”
