Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel says it will take more time before deciding whether to increase the guaranteed cane price, as the Parliamentary Committee on Sugar continues its consultations with growers and stakeholders.
This comes after repeated calls and harvest boycotts by sugar cane farmers, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed the Government is assessing whether increasing the guaranteed cane price from $85 to $110 is financially sustainable.
While speaking to fijivillage News, Immanuel says the committee is still carrying out its work, and its recommendations will help determine what further assistance can be provided to the sugar industry.
He says he cannot commit to a timeframe for a decision but assures farmers that the Government is looking at ways to provide additional support, on top of the existing guaranteed cane price of $85 per tonne.
When asked about Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Gounder's comments that the sugar industry would require billions of dollars to rebuild itself, Immanuel agreed with the assessment.
He says considering the current world sugar prices, the industry is not sustainable in its present state, adding that the Permanent Secretary's comments are a true reflection of the challenges facing the sector.
Meanwhile, Korovuli, Seaqaqa sugarcane farmer Varanisese Maisiri and many like her continue to call on the Government to increase the cane delivery payment to $65 per tonne, saying the current payment is not enough to meet the rising cost of transporting sugarcane to the mill.
She was unable to harvest her cane because of the low delivery payment received by farmers.
She says fuel prices have made it difficult for many to pay lorry operators to transport cane from Seaqaqa to the Labasa Mill.
Maisiri also says many cane farmers are still waiting for the promised guaranteed cane price of $110 per tonne, which was promised by the National Federation Party.
However, NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad earlier last week rejected claims that NFP promised $110 cane price.
