FSC says growers with low tonnage may have received no cash income in final cane payment

The Fiji Sugar Corporation says that it must be noted that cane growers with significantly lower tonnage will have a direct correlation to lower proceeds, and in some cases, may receive no cash income in the final cane payment.

FSC Chief Executive Officer Graham Clarke stresses that FSC has no control over this.

He says in terms of financing debt, with this 2016 final cane payment, the growers have reduced their debt.

Clarke adds that it’s important to note that the initial cane payment was 44 cents per tonne but government relief (top-up) has allowed for many growers the ability to reduce what debt they will carry forward to 2017.

He says there are also a large number of farmers who will enjoy more earnings for this 2016 final cane payment, as a direct result of producing larger tonnages of cane combined with manageable debt levels.

Clarke says with the 2016 final cane payment, 50% of current grower debt to FSC has been deducted.

He says the total 2016 Cane Payment was $9.1 million.

He says of this amount, less than 20% or $1.8 million for fertilizer, weedicide, sugar and rice was deducted by FSC.

Clarke says remainder amounts were channeled to individual grower bank accounts and grower nominated financial institutions for their repayments and this is normal practice.

Meanwhile the National Federation Party says more than 70% of over 9,000 cane growers and their families will have a bleak Diwali after deductions by the FSC for commodities and loans have left them with no income in the fourth and final cane payment for 2016.

NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad has also called the government’s decision to top up the fourth cane payment of 44 cents per tonne by $9.15 as a sham.

Prasad claims that in one case a grower who harvested 236 tonnes of sugarcane in 2016 is listed with only 82 cents from payment of about $1500 after deductions by FSC.

Prasad says in reality a grower has paid 50% of debt owed to FSC for fertilizer, rice and sugar.

FSC’s Chief Operating Officer Navin Chandra says they understand everyone has a constitutional right to make comments as NFP has done in this case and they do not comment on what they say.

He says if a grower wants to know specifics about their accounts, they are most welcome to contact FSC directly on 08006661972 and they will provide them all the explanation directly.