THE Sugar Cane Growers Council says it is confident the final payment to make up the $85 per tonne guaranteed cane price for the 2018 season would be paid by the Fiji Sugar Corporation before the end of this month.
Council CEO Sundresh Chetty has reassured farmers and stakeholders that despite negative comments about the sugar industry recently, normal delivery payments have all been paid for the season so far and would continue to be paid on time for all remaining deliveries.
“The final cane payment will be paid by the FSC before the end of October and hopefully before the Diwali festival which falls later this month,” Mr Chetty said.
“We have also been assured the corporation is trying its best to improve mill performances and milling efficiencies as we are now achieving positive results.
“Improvements in the transportation sector are an integral component in moving the industry forward and the industry is very much committed to it.”
Mr Chetty, who is also a Sugar Cane Growers Fund board member, added that the SCGF had this year been focused on improvements to policies, processes, loan recovery frameworks and improvement to its ICT system.
In response to queries from this newspaper, the FSC said it would respond to the timing of the payment in due course.
