Mechanical cane harvesting rate increases to $20.61 per tonne

Sugarcane farmers now have to spend more for harvesting from this season as the rate for mechanical harvesting has increased from $17.50 to $20.61 per tonne.

The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission has authorized this rate which is effective from yesterday.

While speaking during the opening of the 2022 cane harvesting season in Labasa, President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere says he understands that rising fuel prices has brought serious challenges to the mechanical harvester operators.

He says they are fortunate that their plight for increase in harvesting rates has been finally heard by the FCCC and this will ensure that mechanical harvester operators are able to bare the rising fuel cost as well as make timely repayments to financiers.

Ratu Wiliame who is the also former board member of FSC says there are a total of 42 mechanical harvesters that will be operating this year and 28 of those harvesters are government funded while FSC is operating five of its own harvesters in Labasa.