Cane price

A FARMER is guaranteed $85/tonne for his cane. This is miles above the world market price.

Additionally they get a 56 per cent reduction on fertilisers, a 55 per cent reduction on weedicides, cane access roads done up, transport subsidies, and a few other benefits.

An expert in the industry assesses that the Government investment in the industry gives an overall cane “price” of $135/tonne.

Surely this level of subsidy to a dead industry cannot continue for ever. If the worst eventuates it is the taxpayer and FNPF member who foots the bill in the end because Government guarantees the loans.

Perhaps more Fijians will start to question what is going on, and when, if ever, it can get back to producing four million tonnes of cane/ annum that it used to. Of course it was politics and coups which felled the industry, now it is cyclones and droughts. In the 40 odd years I have been here we have always had those. ALLAN LOOSLEY

Tavua