FSC not in a position to assist cane growers - Clark

The CEO of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, Graham Clark says the FSC is not in a position to assist cane growers by taking care of their deductions from the 2019 cane payment.

For the 2018 cane payment, growers received $85 per tonne of cane as the FSC had taken care of the deductions, however for the 2019 season, growers have received $82.21 per tonne as $2.79 has been deducted from the guaranteed price of $85 per tonne.

According to Clark, the FSC was in a position to assist cane growers for the 2018 cane payment however they cannot do the same after the impact of COVID-19.

Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had stated earlier that the FSC took care of the deductions for 2018 cane payment, however various master award recognized deductions will now have to be made from the $85 per tonne guaranteed cane price which is a gross cane payment.

He says from this amount, there are deductions like lorry transport cost and customs charges.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the government is currently paying the cane farmers the difference between the world sugar price and the $85 cane payment and the final payment will have deductions as always done.

Meanwhile, the National Farmers Union and National Federation Party are saying the $85 guaranteed price paid to farmers should not attract any deductions.