GARAM Pani, Tavua sugarcane farmer Sowani Veremalua Tovata is pleading with the Government to intervene and help save the sugar industry from what he describes as imminent collapse.
He said families in his area have cultivated sugarcane in the Tavua cane belt for about 80 years but are now struggling to earn a viable income.
“We are pleading with the Minister for Agriculture and the Prime Minister to come and talk to the farmers,” he said.
Mr Tovata said falling cane returns and rising costs have left many families in cane-growing areas under severe financial pressure.
“There is so much cane, but it’s not harvested because I normally use the cart as the cost of lorries is too high; the cart is easier because it’s cheaper and we live in a hilly area,” he said.
“Now we must look for our own livelihood. I am even considering going overseas to look for work and earn money.”
He said third-generation cane farming families now face the difficult decision of abandoning land their forefathers worked hard to develop and maintain.
“I am emotional because we have children that are schooling and we cannot provide for our families. Now we are planting cassava to at least make money.
“We are being asked why we aren’t planting but the reality is that we are not making any money.”
