THE supply of sugar in Fiji could be affected by early July, the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) has warned.
FSC chief operating officer Mikaele Biukoto told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic Affairs yesterday that low movement of Memorandum of Gang Agreement (MOGA) submissions from harvesting gangs to sector offices was slowing the start of the crushing season.
He said harvesting readiness at the mills had effectively stalled.
“The readiness of the harvesting gangs to the mills is sort of paused,” Mr Biukoto said.
“For example, Lautoka when two days it was supposed to start, we compared the receivable of MOGA for 2025 and 2026.
“In 2026, we had only 4 per cent of MOGA received, but in 2025 we had about 60 per cent MOGA received, which indicates that the gangs were out there ready to harvest.”
Mr Biukoto said the same trend was being recorded at Rarawai and Labasa mills.
He said Rarawai was scheduled to begin crushing on June 16 and Labasa on June 17.
Standing Committee member and Opposition MP Semi Koroilavesau said submissions from the Sugar Cane Growers Council suggested the MOGA process was functioning normally, contrasting with FSC’s assessment.
In response, Mr Biukoto said FSC was still waiting for updated MOGA submissions to confirm harvesting readiness.
“As per the figures that I have quoted, they haven’t changed much from yesterday (Thursday). So basically, it is still around that 5 to 6 per cent for the two mills in Viti Levu and in Labasa compared to the previous years,” he said.
He said FSC was still monitoring developments and hoped recent changes in delivery payments would encourage harvesting gangs to finalise arrangements.
“We are hoping with that $5 increase in delivery payment that happened last night (Thursday) will trigger something out there on the field,” Mr Biukoto said.
“Because the gangs will have to follow their gang constitution and call a meeting and we are hoping with that $47 they will be able to work out some numbers for their individual task in the gangs on what they do when they harvest. And get the gangs to meet and agree on some numbers and submit.”
He warned that if MOGA submissions do not improve, crushing delays similar to those experienced in Lautoka could occur, potentially affecting national sugar supply from early July.
“That is what we are hoping but if it doesn’t then it will be similar to what we did in Lautoka where we will call for a deferment of crushing, which will threaten us in terms of our supply to the nation from early July,” he said.
