On Monday September 14, 1992, this newspaper published an article titled “Govt must surrender its FSC Shares: NFU.
The article reported that the National Farmers Union had called on government to sell 49 per cent of its shares in Fiji Sugar Corporation to farmers, mill workers and landowners.
Union general secretary at the time, Mahendra Chaudhry, made the call during the annual general meeting of the union’s Lautoka branch on Saturday (September 12).
Mr Chaudhry told more than 70 farmers at the meeting that democratisation of the sugar industry was needed to ensure a better future for the industry.
“Farmers, mill workers and landowners will have equal say in the running of the industry,” he said.
“This means that they will all work harder to maintain the viability of the industry as any losses will mean less money for them,” he said.
Government owns about 80 per cent shares in FSC while the rest were held by individuals and companies.
Mr Chaudhry said while the government was promoting deregulation, it continued to hold majority shares in FSC.
He also called for the introduction of a five-month crushing season at the four sugar mills.
According to the article, the season then lasted about seven months and usually includes November and December, two of the rainy months.
Mr Chaudhry said the crushing season should be from July to November.
“Although we have a seven-month crushing season at present, about six to eight weeks are taken up by breakdowns at the mills,” he said.
He said FSC should be penalised for failing to maintain its mills in running condition.
“As farmers pay a penalty for delivering burnt cane to mills, the FSC should be penalised for any breakdowns occurring through their carelessness and lack of planning,” he said.
“These breakdowns cause many problems for farmers and gangs apart from prolonging the crushing season into the rainy months.”
Mr Chaudhry said the NFU had promised farmers pension and medical schemes, and the formation of a farmers’ bank during the Sugar Cane Growers Council election campaign.
He said a pension scheme would be launched within the next 18 months.
“This would enable farmers to receive some money when they retire from farming rather than depending on their children looking after the farm,” he said.
The Sugar Cane Growers Fund Authority has approved the formation of a farmers’ bank, and the matter was before government for approval.
The council was also studying several medical schemes, and a decision was expected to be made within the next two months.
