The Sugar Industry Tribunal has confirmed a third cane payment of $10.91 per tonne for growers in the 2025 season, saying the amount will be disbursed on April 20, 2026. The tribunal's announcement formalises a funding arrangement that followed a late government top-up and ends weeks of uncertainty over the size and timing of the next payout to farmers.
The $10.91 per tonne third payment reflects a combination of Fiji Sugar Corporation Ltd’s initial indicated contribution of $0.84 per tonne and an additional $10.07 injection from the Government. With this latest increment, the total cane payment for the 2025 season now stands at $68.04 per tonne, the tribunal said. The figure provides a clearer end-point for growers after an unsettled post-crush period.
The tribunal also confirmed that the net share of cane proceeds received as of February 28, 2026, totals $71.34 million. That sum represents funds already collected and earmarked under the legal revenue-sharing framework for cane payments, indicating that a substantial portion of growers’ entitlements has been realised ahead of the scheduled April payout.
Government officials have assured the tribunal and industry stakeholders that arrangements to secure the additional funding needed to meet the April 20 payment will be finalised before that date. The timing is critical for many farming households: earlier in the season the National Farmers Union and grower representatives had pressed for swift clarity and compensation mechanisms, particularly as an estimated volume of standover cane and challenging harvesting conditions left some farmers facing income shortfalls.
Fiji Sugar Corporation’s modest initial offer of $0.84 per tonne triggered calls from growers and unions for greater state support. The government's $10.07 injection appears aimed at bridging that gap and restoring confidence that proceeds will be distributed in line with statutory responsibilities and the expectations of cane suppliers.
The tribunal’s confirmation brings a latest development to a story that has been evolving since the close of the 2025 crushing season, when growers sought immediate resolution on unpaid cane and compensation for unharvested cane. With the April 20 payout date set and government assurances in place, farmers will now wait to see the funds credited, with industry bodies expected to monitor the distribution and communicate next steps to growers.
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