Opposition MP and Shadow Minister for Sugar, , is calling on cane farmers to unite and begin preparations for the 2026 harvesting season, warning that further delays could have serious consequences for growers and the wider sugar industry.
In a statement, Pillay said farmers were already behind schedule and could not afford to lose more time.
“My hands know the weight of the cane knife, and my heart knows the anxiety you feel every time you look at the sky and see no smoke coming from the mill chimneys,” he said.
“We are already behind, and every day we wait is a day we lose to the weather.”
Pillay stressed that he was speaking not as a politician but as a fellow cane farmer who understood the financial pressures facing growers.
“I am speaking as one of you. I know the struggle of keeping a farm alive when fuel and repair costs are soaring,” he said.
While reaffirming his support for a cane price of $110 per tonne, which he said had been promised during the 2022 election campaign, Pillay urged farmers not to pursue actions that could jeopardise the harvest.
“We are at a crossroads. Some call for a boycott, but that only hurts our own families and the thousands of workers who depend on this industry. We cannot let pride cost us our harvest,” he said.
Pillay acknowledged that the recently announced $2 fuel rebate would provide some relief but argued that more support was needed.
“The $2 fuel rebate is a start, but it does not cover our daily costs. We need the Tribunal to approve higher delivery payments immediately,” he said.
He also called on the Government and the Fiji Sugar Corporation to honour rebate commitments and remain prepared to increase assistance should fuel costs rise further.
As President of the Riverside Farmers Co-operative, Pillay highlighted recent investment in harvesting equipment, saying farmers must continue to build resilience despite industry challenges.
“I am proud, as the President of the Riverside Farmers Co-operative, to say our new harvester is finally ready. We have invested in this new machinery to build our own future, even when times are tough.”
Pillay urged cane gangs to organise and prepare for harvesting, while calling on the Fiji Sugar Corporation to announce crushing start dates without further delay.
“We need the Fiji Sugar Corporation to announce the start dates now. We need to start harvesting today,” he said.
“Do not be misled by those who have never planted a cane stool. Our industry and our children need us to bring this harvest in, and we must do it together.”
