The National Farmers Union (NFU) is demanding clear answers from the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) and the Government on whether cane farmers will be compensated for standover cane left unharvested at the close of the 2025 crushing season.
The season ended on Monday with an estimated 85,000 tonnes of cane remaining in the fields across the Western Division, leaving hundreds of cane farming families facing a year with little to no income.
NFU General Secretary Mahendra Chaudhry said the union had written to the Sugar Minister and FSC three weeks ago, urging that crushing at the Rarawai Mill be terminated early due to the difficult conditions farmers were facing.
“We clearly advised that crushing at Rarawai should be stopped because of the harsh conditions under which growers were being forced to harvest their cane,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“And growers must be compensated for the standover cane.”
He recommended compensation of $35 per tonne, stressing that the crisis was not caused by farmers.
“The 2025 cane season was chaotic. It placed extreme pressure on growers and resulted in substantial financial losses due to milling failures and problems completely beyond their control,” he said.
Mr Chaudhry also called for a refund of all burnt cane penalties deducted from farmers’ proceeds in the Ba and Lautoka mill areas since 17 September, the date the Rarawai Mill’s power station was damaged by fire.
He said the closure of the Rarawai Mill on Monday had intensified frustrations among growers, many of whom felt they were denied a fair opportunity to deliver their cane before crushing ceased.
“With the mill now closed, farmers are crying foul,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“They were given assurances that their cane would be taken, yet thousands of tonnes remain standing.”
The union is calling on the Government and FSC to urgently clarify their position and confirm whether compensation will be paid for the standover cane from the 2025 season.
