The National Farmers Union has raised concerns over the continued delay in announcing the Cane Forecast Price for the 2026 crushing season, warning that uncertainty is frustrating growers preparing for the harvest.
NFU general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry said the forecast price should have been announced in April and growers were becoming increasingly upset over the delay.
“It should have been out in April. We are now almost at the end of May,” Chaudhry said.
“Cane farmers preparing for the crushing season ahead are upset at the delay.”
The Forecast Price is used to determine growers’ delivery payments and helps farmers budget for harvesting costs, including labour, transportation and other operational expenses.
The Union also highlighted several other delays affecting cane farmers ahead of the new season.
According to the NFU, the Third Cane Payment due at the end of March was only paid on April 17.
Farmers are also still awaiting the Sugar Industry Tribunal’s ruling on the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s application to shut down the Lautoka-Tavua rail system.
The NFU said growers had strongly protested against the proposed closure, particularly at a time of rising fuel costs.
The Union also noted that growers were still waiting for delayed incentive payments of $3 per tonne for manual harvesting and a separate $5 per tonne farm incentive payment.
The payments were initially expected in February, with Government later assuring farmers they would be paid by the end of May.
“It should be made sometime this week without further delay,” the Union said.
Farmers are also awaiting a decision on requests for a fuel rebate for the 2026 harvesting season.
Meanwhile, the NFU questioned an announcement made during a sugar industry stakeholders consultation in Ba that elections for the Sugar Cane Growers Council would be held in October.
The Union said holding elections during the height of the crushing season would be inappropriate and queried why the Growers Council had not been consulted before the announcement was made.
