$8.37 per tonne payout

CANE farmers will receive $8.37 per tonne as the third payment for their 2020 crop today.

This, according to the Sugar Industry Tribunal.

In a statement issued yesterday, registrar of tribunal Timothy Brown said the total net share of growers’ proceeds up to and including February 28, 2021, was $91,944,345.

Farmers’ share of proceeds is calculated at 70 per cent of total sugar sales, based on the Sugar Industry Master Award.

“This is equivalent to $53.17 per tonne of cane,” Mr Brown said.

“The Fiji Sugar Corporation has to-date paid out to farmers a total of $51.33 per tonne of cane, made up of $38.50 per tonne delivery payment and $12.83 per tonne second cane payment.”

Mr Brown said once the $8.37 payout was made, it would bring the total payment to growers to $59.70 per tonne.

National Farmers Union general secretary and former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry said growers were being “shortchanged”.

He said farmers were owed a total of $85 per tonne under Government’s guaranteed price and had been paid $51.33 in the first two payments, leaving a balance of $33.67.

“Farmers were expecting a payment of at least $12 per tonne in this third payment and $8.37 is very disappointing,” Mr Chaudhry said.

Fiji Cane Growers Association general secretary Bala Dass echoed similar sentiments.

“First, we have the delay in the third cane payment announcement and then when it is made, it is a dismal $8.37,” he said.