Opposition MP Viam Pillay has accused the Government and the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) of leaving cane farmers out of pocket for the 2025 crushing season, saying current payouts fall short of long-standing guarantees and that several promised bonuses remain unpaid.
In a statement on Thursday, Pillay said growers had been told they could rely on a guaranteed price but that the actual payout of $79.97 per tonne was below the $85-per-tonne guarantee set under the former FijiFirst government. “The math is simple… the current payout of $79.97 leaves a shortfall of $5.03 against that old guarantee alone,” he said, adding that farmers cannot “feed a family on a percentage of a promise.”
Pillay also pointed to a higher figure he says was pledged after the 2022 elections — a $110-per-tonne guaranteed price — which he said has not materialised. He argued that the higher payments seen in recent seasons were driven by global sugar market conditions rather than direct government support. “That money didn’t come from the government’s pocket; it came from the market,” he said.
Beyond the base price shortfall, Pillay highlighted unpaid bonuses he says are owed to growers: $3 per tonne for manual harvesting and $5 per tonne for production increases. He also raised concerns about outstanding payments for stand-over cane and criticised what he described as the practice of delaying payments despite farmers paying up-front costs. “Farmers have already paid for their fuel, their fertilizer, and their labor upfront at record-high prices. They have delivered the cane. So why is their money being held back?” he asked.
Pillay said the release of delayed payments should not be celebrated. “Releasing overdue money is the bare minimum. Our farmers are the backbone of this country and they deserve the survival price they were promised, not a percentage of the truth,” he said, calling on authorities to “stop the games” and settle outstanding payments promptly.
The statement is the latest development in ongoing concerns about the financial stability of Fiji’s sugar sector. The industry has faced a range of pressures in recent seasons, including mill disruptions and environmental challenges that have prompted relief measures and targeted assistance in affected areas. Pillay’s intervention places renewed attention on whether official price guarantees and bonus schemes are being honoured in practice.
There was no immediate response from the FSC or the government to Pillay’s claims. Farmers’ groups and industry stakeholders will be watching whether authorities move to reconcile the claimed shortfalls and unpaid bonuses ahead of the next planting and harvesting cycles.
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