The National Farmers Union (NFU) has reached out to the newly appointed Minister for Sugar, Tomasi Tunabuna, as well as the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC), requesting an urgent halt to the crushing season at the Rarawai Mill and compensation for unharvested cane affecting local farmers.
In their letter, the NFU demands a compensation rate of $35 per tonne for the cane that remains unharvested. The Rarawai Mill has been inactive for nearly three months, having ceased operations on September 17 due to fire damage, resulting in over 140,000 tonnes of unharvested cane across the Ba, Tavua, Ra, and Lautoka regions.
According to Mahendra Chaudhry, General Secretary of the NFU, farmers are facing severe challenges with harvesting and delivering cane due to continuous wet weather conditions since the mill resumed. “Farmers face substantial difficulties in harvesting and delivering cane to the mill due to the extremely wet weather over the past two weeks,” Mr. Chaudhry stated. The relentless rainfall has rendered harvesting machines ineffective, leading to significant disruptions in cane supply and financial losses for both growers and the FSC.
As the wet season intensifies and the Christmas holidays approach, Mr. Chaudhry pointed out that an acute labor shortage exacerbates the challenges facing farmers. Many are losing hope of timely harvesting for their crops.
The NFU is proposing compensation for all growers with unharvested cane, including those in Labasa and Lautoka. The suggested compensation amount reflects one-third of the anticipated cane price for the 2024 season, projected at $101.13 per tonne. The union has also criticized the FSC and mill management regarding the fire incident at Rarawai, claiming that farmers should not bear the consequences of administrative failures. They are advocating for the reimbursement of all penalties related to burnt cane deducted since September 17, in addition to restoring the lorry allowance from $10 back to $15 per tonne.
“The farmers cannot continue to bear the burden of such inefficiencies,” Mr. Chaudhry asserted, calling for immediate support to assist the agricultural community during this challenging period. This appeal underscores the urgent need for ongoing support and effective measures to protect farmers’ livelihoods amid difficult circumstances.