Opposition MP Viam Pillay has demanded the government urgently announce a guaranteed cane price, warning that delays in Master Award payments are pushing Fiji’s beleaguered sugar industry toward a full-blown crisis just as growers prepare for the 2026 crushing season. Pillay described the current hold-up in payments as “unprecedented” under the Master Award and said farmers are facing severe financial strain while they wait for money owed.
“When the hands that feed this nation are forced to beg for their own hard‑earned money, the system isn’t just broken—it’s a betrayal,” Pillay told reporters, laying out a picture of rural households under pressure. He said farmers, cooperatives and lorry owners are struggling to meet bank repayments and daily expenses, with creditors already “knocking on doors” and some local shops cutting off credit to growers because payments have been withheld.
Pillay urged the government to immediately set a guaranteed price so cane growers can plan for the season ahead, reminding ministers of a pre‑election pledge to fix the minimum price at $110 per tonne. “You promised the farmers $110 before the election. Announce a guaranteed price… so they know where they stand,” he said, adding that there must be “no deductions” from March and April payments and that negotiations with stakeholders should be brought forward.
The Opposition lawmaker also warned that global cost pressures will compound farmers’ problems. “With fuel hitting $100 a barrel… every cost for the coming season—from fertiliser to transport—is going to skyrocket,” he said, arguing that without price certainty and timely payments, many growers will be unable to meet higher input and operating costs.
Pillay’s intervention is the latest development in a string of issues affecting Fiji’s sugar sector. In recent months the government moved to provide relief after a fire at the Rarawai mill in Ba and rolled out assistance for farmers hit by pre‑season burnt cane. Those measures focused on keeping harvests on track, but Pillay says they do not address the immediate liquidity crunch facing individual growers when Master Award payments fail to arrive.
He called on the government and the Sugar Cane Growers Council to convene early and reach agreement with unions and farmer groups on both price and payment schedules to avoid a collapse in supply and livelihood security. “The time to act is now,” Pillay said.
There was no immediate comment from the government or the Ministry responsible for the sugar industry on Pillay’s demands. With the 2026 crushing season preparations already under way, farmers and industry stakeholders will be watching closely for a response that could determine whether the sector weathers the short‑term cash squeeze or slips into deeper distress.
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