Growers hope for Cane Payment

Sugar cane farmers in the country are keeping their fingers crossed and are hopeful of getting an early fourth payment. The payment is scheduled for later this month but farmers want it early to prepare themselves for 2007 crushing season. If the payment is not made early, farmers believe they would not be ready to start harvesting. The Sugar Cane Growers Council has requested the Fiji Sugar Corporation to consider making the payment early.

SCGC Chairman Jain Kumar yesterday said the Council was hopeful that the payment would be made earlier than the end of the month. We have requested FSC to make an early payment and we are hopeful that it will be done, he said. The payment is normally due at the end of May but it would be too late for farmers to prepare themselves for the season. As such farmers want the payment given to them a few weeks earlier so that they have enough time to prepare themselves. Mr. Kumar said the amount of money that would be given had not been announced yet.

However, he said deductions would be made from the payment for the $4 per tonne advance pay early this year to assist farmers in their children’s education. Asked whether farmers would have any money left after the deductions, he said: yes, “they should have money left to prepare for the 2007 season”. The Fiji Kisan Sangh also urged the Corporation yesterday to make way for an early payment to enable farmers prepare themselves.

Mr. Kumar said harvesting gangs should hold their meetings and start preparing for the new crushing season.