Farmers have no voice in the sugar industry, yet they represent 70 per cent of the stakeholders in the industry.
This was highlighted by National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry in an interview in Tavua yesterday.
Mr Chaudhry said the burnt cane penalty that was imposed on farmers during the fire incident in the Rarawai Mill last December had to be refunded to farmers.
“We have written to the Minister of Sugar and that was written in December last year,” he said.
“And we gave the reasons why farmers need a refund.”
“But the letter has not been acknowledged and no response given.
“The problem is not with us, it is with the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) and the Ministry of Sugar, and they are continuing to ignore the union.
“And now we have no other avenue but to force them to the negotiating table.”
When asked if there will be another memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the union and FSC, Mr Chaudhry said it would depend on whether the three sugar mills would operate efficiently this Wednesday.
“That will decide the issue. Farmers have been kicked from one side to the other, and they have not been given any respect or dignity.
“They have been ignored right from 2009 when the sugar cane institutions were dismantled by the previous government.”
