Subsidy to Benefit North Cane Farmers
The Labasa Cane Producers’ Association (LCPA) handed a cheque worth $574,603.38 to the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) for the first ever transport subsidy in Labasa yesterday. 2,866 farmers in Labasa and Seaqaqa would benefit from this subsidy.
The presentation of the cheque was done before the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Sugar industry Yogesh Karan, Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) chief operating officer Navin Chandra and LCPA staff members.
LCPA internal control system officer Salman Shah informed the gathering said the association thought fit to design the transportation subsidy programme for farmers which obviously got approved in the 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
“The transportation subsidy is allocated at $1 per tonne based on each farms 2017 production,” Mr Shah said.
“This is designed to benefit farmers to transit tonnes of cane to Labasa mill.”
Rajendra Prasad, 57, a sugarcane farmer of Vunimoli and Waiqele in Labasa said last year he has supplied 150 tonnes of cane from his four and a half acre farm. “The cartage cost for one tonne of cane last year was $9.50,” Mr Prasad said.
“I spent $1,500 in total for the last season which is very costly for me. “Now with $1 per tonne transportation subsidy we will receive this year I will be able to cover other costs,” he said.
“At least some burden has been taken off from my shoulder.” Mereoni Ratu, 44, a sugarcane farmer of Nakama, Labasa said thanked LCPA for their assistance. “I used to pay my lorry owner $11 per tonne to transport cane from Nakama to the mill,” Mrs Ratu said.
“At least this year I will be able to save money.” Meanwhile, Mr Karan and Mr Chandra thanked LCPA for their assistance and co-operation for so many years.