FSC announces final 2016 cane payment of $3.05 for cane growers

The Fiji Sugar Corporation has announced a special and final 2016 cane payment of $3.05 per tonne to cane growers this Friday.

FSC says this is the final cane payment in respect of the 2016 season crop.

It says there has been a top-up of $3.05 per tonne which brings the total cane payment to $82 per tonne compared to $76.66 per tonne in 2015.

FSC says the special 2016 cane top‑up payment is further support for cane farmers which was a commitment assured by Prime Minister and Minister of i‑Taukei Affairs, Sugar Industry and Foreign Affairs, Voreqe Bainimarama.

The payment is in line with the announcement in October last year, of a final special cane payment to growers for the 2016 crop, to be paid out before the school term this month.

FSC says there will be no deductions from the special cane payment and all payments will be disbursed directly to growers, either by cheque or directly into their bank accounts. 

Meanwhile, National Federation Party General Secretary Jagannath Sami says when the final cane payment for the 2016 season of 44 cents was topped up by $9.15 by the government last October, FSC had announced that a sum of $3.05 per tonne would be paid well before the start of the 2018 school year.

Sami says cane growers and their families are struggling to purchase school necessities for their children because the new school year starts on January 16th, which is next Tuesday.