Forecast price very less – Chand
ONE of Nadi’s biggest canegrowers Lakhmi Chand says he will not harvest this year if the 2021 forecast price per tonne is not increased in the 2021/2022 National Budget.
“I will not cut my cane if I don’t get a good price because if I will harvest with the $54.36 per tonne forecast price, I will go into debt,” he said.
Mr Chand said he had 1500 tonnes of matured cane ready to be harvested.
“However, without any increment to the forecast price, I will incur huge losses in terms of housing and paying for 22 canecutters along with other harvesting and delivery costs.
“My direct cost is $47 per tonne –– $25 for labour, $20 for cartage and $2 for the sardar.”
He said the $54.36 per tonne forecast price meant his delivery payment would be $32.61, 60 per cent of the forecast price which was well below his $47 per tonne cost.
Mr Chand said the canecutters which he wanted to bring in from Tailevu were demanding $25 per tonne plus $100 bond for each labourer.
“That means I will have to pay $2200 bond for the 22 of them.”
Mr Chand said because of the expected losses under the forecast price, he would hold back from harvesting until after the 2021/2022 National Budget was announced tonight.
“The $54.36 forecast price is very less and if this price is not increased by at least $10, then I will have to stop canefarming and look at growing some other crop.”
Questions sent to Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) CEO Bhan Pratap Singh on the issues raised by Mr Chand remain unanswered.