‘Growers want to work their own farms’

THE Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) is exploiting farmers by taking grants provided under the cane replanting scheme, claims former prime minister and National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry.

“Land preparation for replanting under this scheme is now undertaken by FSC using its own tractors and equipment,” he said in a letter to FSC chief executive Bhan Pratap Singh last week.

“In turn, it (FSC) collects the grant which should actually be paid to the canefarmers who are able to use their own equipment to prepare the land for replanting on their farms.”

Mr Chaudhry said FSC should only involve itself in this work in cases where the grower requested it or where the grower did not have the necessary equipment for the work.

“Why was this change made? The growers feel they are being undermined in that their own equipment cannot be used on their own farms. They would rather do the work themselves and get paid for it.

“We empathise with the growers and feel that FSC should not impose itself on them as they are the owners of their farms in their own right and they alone must decide how land preparation work on their farms should be carried out.

“We request that the previous practice of letting the growers carry out the work be reverted to.”

Questions sent to Mr Singh, Prime Minister and Sugar Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Sugar Ministry permanent secretary Yogesh Karan on the comments made by Mr Chaudhry remain unanswered.