Sugar Cane Price
p. 45 · Read in the full issue
In Fiji
Agreement Reached
From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, June 26.
THE Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Ltd., at a meeting with represen tatives of the five canegrowers’ associations at Lautoka, Fiji, on June 16, agreed to increase the price paid for sugar cane.
This has the effect of increasing the price of cane by 1/8 a ton over the February offer by the CSR to growers, at a yield of 7.1 tons of cane to a ton of sugar and at the present estimated f.o.b. value of £3l (Fiji) a ton of 94 net titre sugar.
The figure is based on the United Kingdom Ministry of Food’s offer for the 1950 sugar-crop. At this yield and price it is estimated that the price per ton of cane (including the value of molasses) will be as follows: When sugar output is 120,000 tons per annum or less, 47/OJ; When sugar output is 130,000 tons per annum or less, 48/-; When sugar output is 140,000 tons per annum or more, 48/10 1.
Because of lower sweetness of its cane it is usual for Nausori prices to be somewhat lower and it was estimated that they would be about 44/8, 45/8, and 46/8 a ton of cane with sugar output as stated.
However, the secretary of the Rewa Farmers’ Union (F. Mohammed) issued a statement that “no separate figure for Nausori was negotiated, and the price accepted by us is 47/OJd. in respect of 1950 for Fiji.”
The average price at all mills in 1948 was 35/-.
After the meeting representatives of the five associations told the growers that they considered the offer reasonable and advised them that they should proceed with the harvesting of this season’s crop.