Minister for Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna says the Government will consider assistance for cane farmers based on their needs and changing conditions, but has not confirmed any immediate financial relief or an increase to the $110 guaranteed cane price being demanded by some farmers.
Tunabuna says the Special Committee on the Sugar Industry is meeting farmers and other stakeholders to hear their concerns and determine the way forward for the industry.
When questioned by fijivillage News about comments attributed to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka regarding possible relief for farmers, Tunabuna says the Government will try to work out how best to address farmers’ needs.
He says the Government will provide assistance in areas where it is needed, depending on the fuel situation, and will readjust its approach if conditions, including price change.
Tunabuna says there has been a lot of misinformation and misinterpretation about what is happening in the sugar industry, claiming some people are using the issue for political leverage and providing information for their own benefit.
He says the Government continues to provide assistance to farmers.
Tunabuna also says farmers have already started harvesting in several areas and more are expected to begin next week.
He says Labasa is in full swing and, according to information he received from the Fiji Sugar Corporation, the mill has sufficient cane supply and is fully operational with two shifts.
Tunabuna says farmers in Ba and Rakiraki are also harvesting, while cane harvested around Lautoka is being transported to Rarawai.
He says 90 trucks carrying cane were sent from Lautoka to Rarawai two days ago, while more than 30 trucks were sent two days before that.
Tunabuna acknowledges there may still be pockets of farmers who are not harvesting, but says not all farmers start harvesting at the same time, as some prefer to harvest later while some cane may not yet be ready.
Responding to farmers in areas including Sigatoka who say they will not harvest unless the price increases to $110, Tunabuna says the $110 demand came from Fiji Labour Party Leader and National Farmers’ Union General Secretary Mahendra Chaudhry.
He stresses that the guaranteed minimum cane price is $85 and says farmers have been paid above the minimum over the past three years.
Tunabuna also criticised Chaudhry for not attending the last two consultation sessions, saying he had been given opportunities to attend since the start of harvesting.
He also questioned how many sugarcane farmers are financially registered with the National Farmers’ Union and how many farmers Chaudhry represents.
While responding to our questions, Chaudhry says the Minister’s statement is full of inaccuracies and not worth a response.
He says they are dealing with the Prime Minister and will await his response.
Meanwhile, Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel says the Government has already made a commitment to the $85 guaranteed cane price, even when the sugar price is below that level.
Immanuel says if the difficult conditions persist, the Government will try to remain within its existing commitment, while improved conditions could provide another area for consideration.
Immanuel says a continued harvesting boycott could affect the economy because of the number of farmers and industries that depend on sugar.
He says sugar remains important because the impact is not limited to farmers but also extends to industries surrounding the sector.
However, Immanuel says sugar is available globally on the supply side, and Fiji must make smart decisions about how it moves forward with the sugar industry.
He adds the parliamentary committee led by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is currently meeting and hearing from all stakeholders in the sugar industry, not only farmers.
