Over 10,000 sugarcane farmers expected to receive record payment

More than 10,000 sugarcane farmers are expected to receive a record cane payment of $20.40 cents per tonne of raw sugar later this week.

According to figures released by the Fiji Sugar Corporation, after a 4th payment to sugar cane farmers, the total paid out so far for the 2012 season will be a record-breaking $78.74 per tonne.

Sugar Cane Growers Council Chief Executive Officer, Sundresh Chetty who has welcomed the announcement said this record payment is expected to bring back the confidence the farmers had lost in the industry a few years ago.

He added that growers will also be able to reinvest in their farms for future development of the sugar industry in the country.

Chetty has also acknowledged the assistance of the government and stakeholders.

There are 16,000 registered sugar cane farmers in the country however only 13,000 registered farmers are actively involved in producing cane.

Meanwhile according to Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama this is a huge achievement for Fiji.

He added that there is one final clean-up cane payment yet to be made that would bring the year's total to at least $80.74 per tonne, if not more.

Story by: Praneeta Prakash