Small relief measures provided to sugarcane farmers in this year’s crushing season were only to shut the mouths of farmers and mechanical harvester operators, according to Bucaisau farmer Firoz Ali.
However, Mr Ali said major issues affecting farmers remained unresolved.
“They have only given us small reliefs and tried to close our mouths, but nothing has been resolved,” he said.
Due to this, he said farmers in the North wanted the special committee on the sugar industry to visit Labasa and Seaqaqa because their concerns also needed to be heard.
“They have done things in Ba and Lautoka, but what about Labasa? Nobody has come here to discuss these issues. We are farmers too. They should come down and talk to us.”
He said although the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his team had visited Labasa, no meeting was held with farmers to discuss the challenges they faced.
Sugar Cane Growers Council chief executive officer Vimal Dutt said no date had been confirmed for the special committee on sugar industry to meet northern growers.
“We are of the view that the committee would also be availing themselves of the northern growers in Labasa and Seaqaqa,” he said.
Mr Dutt said the purpose of the consultations was to allow farmers to directly share their concerns and suggestions on the future of the sugar industry.
