The Ministry of Sugar Industry has revealed that a total of $5 million has been allocated from its 2025/2026 budget to support sugarcane farmers in meeting the rising fuel costs of cartage and mechanical harvesting.
The Ministry says the funding has been reallocated from its existing programmes within the sugar industry and agriculture sector.
Minister for Sugar Tomasi Tunabuna confirms that the $5 million will be used to subsidise diesel fuel at $2 per litre and will only fund lorries, mechanical harvesters, locomotives and tractors used in cane harvesting and cartage activities.
The Ministry says the fuel subsidy will cover the period from today to August 31st this year as temporary relief.
They say all lorries, tractors used for cane cartage, mechanical harvesters and locomotives must be registered with the Fiji Sugar Corporation and comply with Land Transport Authority requirements.
The Ministry says the $2 per litre diesel fuel subsidy will go directly to sugarcane farmers. However, the mechanism for distributing the subsidy will be decided collectively by FSC, the Sugar Industry Tribunal and the Sugar Cane Growers Council.
They say measures will be put in place to ensure there is no double-dipping by beneficiaries, while the utilisation of the subsidy will be strictly monitored by the Sugar Cane Growers Council and FSC to prevent misuse.
The Ministry says the subsidy will be provided on a first come, first served basis and will take into account the volume of cane harvested and delivered to the mills.
They say the programme will end on August 31st or when the subsidy has been fully utilised, whichever comes first.
They add that the subsidy will be managed by FSC and released through the existing payment system following verification.
According to industry records, approximately 4.6 million litres of diesel fuel were used by lorries, locomotives, mechanical harvesters and tractors for harvesting and transporting cane during the 2025 season. This excludes about 1.2 million litres used by Fiji Sugar Corporation diesel generators at sugar factories during cane crushing.
The Ministry says that, of the 4.6 million litres used for harvesting and cartage, about 2.3 million litres were consumed during the first three months of the season, from June to August.
Farmers are being encouraged to consult FSC, the Sugar Cane Growers Council and the Sugar Industry Tribunal for further clarification on the implementation and disbursement of the subsidy.
Meanwhile, Tunabuna is urgently calling on sugarcane farmers, lorry operators, mechanical harvester and tractor operators, as well as sugar factories, to commence sugarcane harvesting and cane crushing.
The Ministry says it remains committed to the sugarcane sector and will ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry.
