Litia Cava 
[Photo: FILE]
Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has warned about the future of cane farming after the 2026 forecast price was set at around $57 per tonne.
He says the figure reflects growing pressure on growers, as rising production costs continue to outpace returns.
Chaudhary says many farmers are now questioning whether harvesting cane remains viable.
“Many farmers are questioning whether it is worth harvesting at all. The industry remains one of the largest sources of livelihood in Fiji and directly or indirectly supports a substantial portion of our population. Its decline has serious social and economic consequences for the entire rural communities.”
Chaudhary believes that weak long-term planning has worsened the situation and is calling for an all-industry conference to address key structural issues in the sector.
Government MP Professor Biman Prasad has rejected the concerns, saying the forecast price does not reflect what farmers will actually receive.
He says forecast figures are linked to global sugar market trends and are typically lower than final cane payments.
“In the last two years, farmers have had the highest gain price. In fact, last year it was $105. So I think we need to stop politicizing, you know, the whole issue and be honest about what the farmers are going to get.”
Prof Prasad says the government has maintained a minimum guaranteed price of $85 per tonne, which he says protects growers from market fluctuations.
