Preparations for a strike in Fiji's vital sugar industry are going ahead despite an offer of better wages and conditions.



The Fiji Sugar Corporation has announced it will give sugar workers a a 5.3% pay increase, equal access to health insurance and access to the special welfare fund.

But the Sugar and General Workers Union says it's nowhere near enough, with the pay rise being equivalent to only half a chicken a week.

Union general secretary Felix Anthony tells Bruce Hill that a ballot on taking industrial action will still go ahead from Tuesday.

Radio Australia has approached the Fiji Sugar Corporation for comment, but they have not responded.

Presenter: Bruce Hill

Speaker: Fiji Sugar and General Workers Union general secretary Felix Anthony

Read more...

The latest development in the sugar industry is the talk about an impending acquisition of one of the new sugar factories in the Southern Nyanza region by one of the players in the industry.

Initially, I was inclined to dismiss the talk as having no substance. But I changed my mind after I found out that Office of the Commissioner for Monopolies had actually dispatched its officers in the field to study the implications of the impending acquisition and to investigate whether it was likely to lead to over concentration of economic power in the sugar industry by one player.

Read more...

Fiji has been exploring getting help with its ailing sugar industry from one of the world’s leading biofuel producers.

Fiji’s ambassador to Brazil, Cama Tuiloma, has been meeting with the country’s key players in the sugarcane and ethanol industries and looking at new technological developments.

Brazil is a leading producer and exporter of ethanol fuel and has one of the most developed industries turning waste from sugar cane into ethanol.

Fiji’s interim government says a leading builder of ethanol mills in Brazil, Dedini SA Industrias de Base has offered to help Fiji after recent positive talks with Fiji’s representative.

The government says Brazil is also keen to help with Fiji’s beef and poultry industries.

Read more...

THE Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) is encouraging farmers in the area to try out different varieties of cane in its effort to lift the image of the sugar industry to another level by maximising on sugar extraction and decreasing the likelihood of disease affecting crops.

Read more...

FIJI has a lot to learn from India in terms of maintaining and sustaining a viable sugar industry. These were the words of Sugar permanent secretary Lieutenant Colonel Manasa Vaniqi on his return from the International Sugar Organisation meeting that was held there.

Read more...

CANE growers in Koronubu and Veisaru in Tavua have raised concern about land security and are hesitant to take loans for cane planting under the interest free Cane Development Revolving Fund (CDRF) offered by the sugar industry.

Read more...

Fiji’s sugar production has fallen from a peak of 341,000 tonnes in 2000 to 136,000 tonnes in 2010 and farmers are being paid reduced prices for their cane.

These low prices are incompatible with the rising costs of production of cane and the latest projections suggest that if the target of restoring profitability by 2015 is to be reached, it is likely that 20% of the land presently used for cane production, particularly on steep slopes with poor and shallow soils, will be released for other uses.

Read more...

Chiefs in the western division have thrown their full support behind the revival of the sugar industry.

In commending their support - Ministry of Sugar permanent secretary Manasa Vaniqi says this is a big achievement for FSC since these chiefs are big landowners in their different districts.

Read more...

A lot of overseas markets are interested in buying Fiji sugar and are offering very lucrative deals which can greatly benefit our Sugar Industry.

Sugar Ministry Permanent Secretary Manasa Vaniqi says there has been much interest from Asian countries like China and Japan, Middle East and also Bangladesh.

Read more...

The Sugar Cane Growers Council says they will support any proposal made by the government which will boost the sugar industry.

SCGC Acting Chief Executive, Sundresh Chetty told FBC News that the proposed quality cane payment system will benefit the industry however it is important to iron out issues surrounding the performance of the sugar mills.

Read more...

The sugar industry is expected to increase production this year.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji has indicated that the sugar sector is forecast to increase production this year given the reforms undertaken within the industry.

It said most sectors of the economy such as tourism and mining will maintain their 2010 growth momentum into this year.

It added the aggregate growth, which is estimated to be 2.7 per cent this year is forecasted to be supported by all sectors.

Read more...

The Tourism Industry could surpass the Sugar Industry to become the backbone of Fiji’s economy says the permanent secretary for Tourism, Elizabeth Powell.

The two industries have been major players in Fiji’s economy over the past decades but the sugar industry has been severely disrupted with mill upgrade failures and low production.

Read more...

THE fishing industry could very well be Fiji's economic saviour, especially with the sugar industry struggling.

During the 2011 Budget announcement, the fisheries export project was $181million for 2011 and $190m for 2012 but back then, the trade agreement between the European Union and Fiji was not considered, says Fisheries permanent secretary Commander Viliame Naupoto.

Fiji was delisted at the outcome of the EU audit back in 2007 and it only this week that the European Parliament re-enlisted Fiji.

Read more...

Fiji's economy is projected to grow by 1.3 percent this year following a slight expansion of 0.1 percent forecast in 2010.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji said visitor arrivals, gold production and consumer spending picked up towards the end of last year however lower sugar and cane output, and subdued investment activity was also evident during this period.

Read more...

There is a possibility Fiji could resume its sugar export to Japan.

Fiji Sugar Corporation CEO Abdul Khan says Fiji could re-enter the Japanese market if a visiting delegation from Japan is impressed.

Khan says the officials will be in the country for direct consultation with FSC officials on proposed quota and shipment arrangements.

Read more...

The Sugar Cane Growers Council is seeking an extension of crushing at the Rarawai Sugar Mill before the 2010 crushing season ends this Friday.

Read more...

The Labasa sugar mill is still struggling to end the 2010 crushing season as the mill is facing problems to finish off with more than five hundred rail trucks of cane still left in the mill yard for crushing.

Read more...

Problems faced by the Sugar industry today could have been solved 20 years ago if past governments were not negligent says Permanent Secretary for Sugar Manasa Vaniqi.

Read more...

Negotiations are still continuing between the Sugar Cane Growers Council, the FSC and the Sugar Industry Tribunal to officially end the 2010 crushing season at the Rarawai and Labasa sugar mills.

Read more...

THE Fiji Sugar Corporation has applied to the Sugar Industry Tribunal for an end-of-crush date for Ba's Rarawai Mill.Spokesman Samuela Railoa said they were keen to cease crushing on December 31 because of escalating costs and low sugar content in the crop.

Read more...