National Farmers Union secretary Mahendra Chaudhry has called on the government to respond to concerns raised by cane farmers, saying the Minister responsible for sugar has yet to acknowledge two letters sent by the union outlining problems facing the industry.
Chaudhry said farmers were being unfairly blamed for the sugar industry’s decline, arguing that responsibility lay with the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) and successive governments that had failed to address long-standing operational issues.
“If fingers are to be pointed as to who is responsible for the current state of the industry, then these should be aimed at FSC and successive governments, not the farmers,” Chaudhry said.
He said the sugar industry had been in steady decline for the past two decades despite significant public funding being directed towards the miller.
According to Chaudhry, FSC’s operational performance had remained poor, while executives continued to receive bonuses.
“For two decades, the sugar industry has been in steady decline. Successive governments have poured money into FSC while failing to address its chronic operational failures.”
“The mills continue to perform poorly, yet the executives responsible for this are rewarded with bonus payments.”
Chaudhry questioned why taxpayers continued to support FSC if the company was unable to improve efficiency and reduce losses.
“The Minister now lectures farmers about logic and business survival, but refuses to apply the same standard to FSC.”
“If the miller is consistently losing money, wasting raw material, and failing to improve efficiency, then serious questions must be asked about why taxpayers continue to subsidise its poor performance.”
He said cane farmers had continued to support the industry through difficult periods, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when tourism revenues collapsed.
“Cane farmers have carried this industry through difficult times, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when tourism collapsed. They have done so with little support and declining returns.”
Chaudhry accused the government of failing to adequately recognise the contribution of growers to the national economy.
“They do not deserve to be insulted by a Minister who appears more interested in defending a failing miller than in fixing the real problems within the industry.”
He said farmers were not seeking favours but were instead calling for accountability and fairness.
“Cane farmers are not asking for favours. They are demanding fairness, accountability from the miller, and a government that respects their contribution to this country rather than insulting them.”
Chaudhry also called on the Minister to respond to correspondence sent by the union outlining industry concerns.
“The Minister could start by having the courtesy to acknowledge the two letters we wrote to him on 18 December 2025 and 4 May 2026 on problems facing the industry and respond to the issues raised therein.”
