Do not blame the sugarcane farmers for the delay in the 2026 crushing season, says former Fiji Sugar Corporation board member and farmer Arvind Singh.
In an interview in Ba yesterday Mr Singh said the farmers were ready for harvesting but it is FSC that needed to pull up their socks.
His comments are in response to the public advisory from FSC on deferring the date for 2026 crushing season at Lautoka Mill, following a review of harvesters not ready to supply cane.
“This is the problem of FSC, they are not ready,” he said.
“Anything that happens in the sugar industry they just blame farmers. Don’t blame the farmers, blame yourself.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by former FSC employee and farmer Jasveer Lal, who claimed the delay was being made by FSC and the Government.
“We farmers are ready for harvest, the crop is ready and harvester is ready, truck is ready, but it is Government and FSC who are not ready,” Mr Lal said.
“And why I am saying that they are not ready is because the demand for the farmers is $110 during this fuel crisis and if they submit it tomorrow, harvesting will start.
“So, the delay we can see is being made by FSC and the Government.”
Mr Lal said the Rarawai sector consists of 300 farmers who were prepared for the 2026 crushing season.
Meanwhile, Ba Lorry Association president and farmer Atish Kumar claimed that the FSC was giving wrong information to the public.
“I think the sugarcane mills are not ready to crush the cane,” Mr Kumar said.
“It’s easy to blame farmers that we are not ready. Farmers are ready and they want to cut the sugarcane, but what is stopping them is the forecast price. Even if you go to the Rarawai Mill, it is not ready.”
The farmers are calling on Government and FSC to increase the forecast price to $110 per tonne to meet the expenses during this fuel crisis.
