Cane farmers from the Lautoka Mill Area have voted unanimously to maintain their boycott of harvesting operations until the Cane Forecast Price and Delivery Payment for the 2026 season are revised and other industry concerns are addressed.
The decision was made at a National Farmers Union (NFU) meeting held at the Girmit Centre in Lautoka today, attended by farmers’ representatives from Lautoka, Nadi and Sigatoka.
NFU General Secretary Mahendra Chaudhry said growers remain united in their stance and are prepared to continue withholding cane until meaningful negotiations take place.
“Farmers are standing firm in their resolve. It is now time for FSC and the Government to come to the negotiating table so that the 2026 harvest can begin,” Chaudhry said.
He claimed the growers’ action has already had an impact, pointing to the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s decision to indefinitely defer the start of crushing at the Lautoka Mill, which had been scheduled to commence this week.
Chaudhry said similar delays could occur at the Rarawai and Labasa mills unless an agreement is reached with growers before crushing operations begin.
Among the farmers’ key demands is an increase in the Delivery Payment to $59.56 per tonne, based on a revised Forecast Cane Price of $85 per tonne, which growers say should reflect the current guaranteed minimum price. They are also calling for the continuation of the Government’s $7.56 per tonne top-up payment.
The former Prime Minister accused Sugar Minister Tomasi Tunabuna of failing to adequately address growers’ concerns.
“With the onset of crushing already delayed by the refusal of growers to harvest unless their demands are met, Minister Tunabuna should be working to address their grievances so that the mills can start rolling,” Chaudhry said.
“He should be averting a crisis in the industry, not prolonging it.”
Chaudhry said the Minister had recently visited the three mill areas of Ba, Lautoka and Labasa but had been unable to convince growers to begin harvesting.
“It’s time now to negotiate, Minister,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with the sugar industry disputes of 1989 and 1990 over the Master Award, Chaudhry said growers had previously demonstrated their willingness to stand united until their concerns were addressed.
He argued that under current conditions many farmers would struggle to make a profit due to what he described as a low delivery payment and rising fuel and harvesting costs.
“Today growers are facing a similar issue. If they harvest under current conditions with a very low Delivery Payment and high fuel costs, they will be incurring huge losses,” Chaudhry said.
“It is financially not viable for them to cut cane unless their conditions are met.”
The NFU is urging the Government and FSC to enter discussions with growers to avoid further delays to the 2026 crushing season.
