Government announces a 4th cane payment of $15 per tonne

Good news for sugarcane farmers around the country as government has announced a 4th cane payment of $15 per tonne.

The Fiji Sugar Corporation will now pay farmers a premium of nearly $8 per tonne on the new 4th cane payment taking it to $15 instead of the $7.20 per tonne they would have received under the superseded Master Award.

Last week, Parliament approved an extension of the $150 million Government Guarantee to the Fiji Sugar Corporation to enable the payment to be made.

Acting Minister for Sugar and Minister for Finance, Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum says government is able to do this because of the tremendous performance of the Fiji Sugar Corporation under its present management and especially it’s Executive Chairman, Abdul Khan.

He says government has taken politics out of the industry and given the FSC the guidance and support it needs to properly manage the industry.

The payment will be made tomorrow.