The Fiji Sugar Corporation’s decision to postpone the start of the 2026 crushing season at Lautoka Mill has intensified speculation that farmer dissatisfaction and boycott threats may already be affecting preparations for the season.
In a public advisory issued today, FSC announced that the June 10 start date for Lautoka Mill had been deferred after a review found harvesting gangs in the mill supply area were not yet ready.
“The decision has been made following a review of harvesting gang readiness across the Lautoka Mill supply area,” FSC said.
“Additional time is required for harvesting gangs to complete the necessary preparations.”
The announcement comes less than a week after sugarcane farmers in the West resolved not to harvest their cane unless the Government and FSC addressed a list of grievances, including demands for higher cane prices, fuel rebates and compensation for losses suffered during the 2025 season.
At meetings organised by the National Farmers Union in Ba and Vunisamaloa, growers called for the start of the crushing season to be deferred until their concerns were addressed.
Farmers have argued that the forecast cane price of $57.40 per tonne is too low to cover rising production, harvesting and transportation costs.
They are seeking a revision of the forecast price to $85 per tonne, which they say would lift the delivery payment to a level that reflects current operating costs.
The growers are also calling for an increase in the guaranteed minimum cane price from $85 to $110 per tonne, fuel rebates, compensation for standover cane losses, improvements to cane access roads and the retention of rail transport services.
NFU general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry had warned that growers would pursue their claims until they obtained what they believed was justice.
“Solidarity was absolutely important,” Chaudhry told farmers, urging them to remain united in their demands.
While FSC has not linked the crushing delay to the boycott threat, the timing of the announcement is likely to fuel questions within the industry about whether grower dissatisfaction is beginning to affect readiness on the ground.
The Corporation has not announced a new start date and says it will continue monitoring preparations before confirming when crushing operations at Lautoka Mill will commence.
The delay adds fresh uncertainty to the start of the 2026 season, with growers, harvesting gangs and industry stakeholders now waiting to see whether ongoing negotiations can resolve the dispute before crushing begins.
