POLITICIAN Surendra Lal believes the relevant stakeholders must urgently listen to the concerns of cane farmers if they want to ensure stability in the sugar industry, following the deferral of the start of the crushing season at all three sugar mills.
Mr Lal said cane farmers had long been calling for a cane price of $110, which he claimed has not been adequately addressed.
“The farmers have been wanting $110 or more. The price given by Government for the forecast price of cane was unreasonable,” he said.
He said the concerns of farmers must not be ignored, adding that their contribution remained critical to the survival of the sugar industry.
“Trust between farmers and authorities must be strengthened, especially at a time when all mills have reportedly been deferred.”
Without meaningful engagement, he says farmers feel hoodwinked by repeated promises and delays in addressing their demands, although he did not provide further details.
“This perception must be addressed through transparent communication and timely decisions from relevant authorities.”
His comments comes after the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) has confirmed that the start of the 2026 sugar crushing season at all mills has been deferred until further notice.
The decision affects the Lautoka, Rarawai and Labasa mills, which were originally scheduled to begin operations from June 10 to June 17.
The deferment was due to insufficient readiness among harvesting gangs required to support efficient mill operations.
