Sugarcane farmers in Fiji’s Western Division have warned that surging fuel prices risk derailing cane deliveries to mills this crushing season, raising the prospect of lower production and greater hardship for growers. At a Sugar Industry Stakeholders consultation in Ba this week, farmer Jain Kumar said diesel costs were already placing “heavy financial pressure” on growers and predicted prices could climb to $4.50 per litre by the end of the month.
“This year it will be very difficult for farmers to deliver cane to the sugar mills,” Kumar told the meeting. He singled out supplies to the Rarawai Mill, saying that at the price he forecast, many growers would simply be unable to afford truck transport. He also warned of particular hardship for growers in Rakiraki, whose longer distances to the mill make them especially vulnerable to fuel shocks.
Kumar urged the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) to reverse recent decisions to close tramlines, arguing rail remains a more affordable option for many small growers. He asked the industry to promote railway delivery and to provide more sugarcane cage bins so mechanical harvesters—already operating near rail lines—can load directly onto the trains. The call highlights a growing operational tension: mechanised harvesting brings efficiency but requires infrastructure such as bins and working rail links to translate savings into lower delivery costs.
Koronubu grower Rajeshwar Singh echoed Kumar’s concerns and pushed for a targeted fuel subsidy. Singh proposed the Government provide an 80-cent per litre rebate for trucks or farmers, administered through FSC bowsers to ensure the support reaches transport operators and growers directly. “If fuel prices are rising by a dollar per litre, then Government should provide a rebate of 80 cents per litre,” he said, adding that the arrangement could be managed through existing FSC fuel distribution.
The concerns drew an immediate response from the Permanent Secretary for the Sugar Industry, Dr Andrew Tukana, who confirmed that discussions on potential fuel assistance were underway. “We are working on something around fuel subsidies and hopefully we should have something for you very soon,” Dr Tukana told stakeholders, signalling that government officials are considering measures to shield the industry from another round of price rises.
The farmers’ warnings come amid broader pressures on the sugar sector, where transport is a substantial cost for growers already contending with narrow margins. Increased diesel prices reduce the viability of cane collection trips, particularly for smallholders who cannot consolidate loads or invest in larger trucks. If deliveries fall short, mills could face reduced throughput during the crushing season, with downstream effects on payments to growers and employment across the industry.
What is new in this development is the combination of a pointed price projection from growers, an explicit demand for an 80-cent per litre rebate channelled through FSC bowsers, and the Permanent Secretary’s public confirmation that fuel assistance options are being actively discussed. Stakeholders at the Ba consultation said they need timely action to prevent an acute delivery crisis, and industry representatives will be closely watching government announcements in the coming days and weeks.