𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧

The Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry is pleased to announce a special cane payment of $5.00 per tonne, to be made on 28th May 2025, with no deductions.

This initiative aims to support sugarcane farmers as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 crushing season, which is scheduled to begin in early June. The payment will help ensure that farmers are financially equipped to secure labour and make the necessary arrangements during this critical preparatory period.

The 2024 cane crushing season presented significant challenges for farmers, including prolonged dry weather, rising production costs, labour shortages, and the ongoing recovery from climate-related disasters. These factors have directly affected farmers’ ability to meet their production targets for 2024 and to adequately prepare for the upcoming 2025 crushing season.

To date, farmers have received four payments for the 2024 season totaling $86.66 per tonne. The special sugarcane payment is intended as a support measure to help farmers during off-season and taking the total cane payment for the 2024 crop to $91.66. The final cane payment for the 2024 season is expected in October 2025.

This special payment will help ease financial burdens and enable farmers to cover critical pre-crushing expenses, including hiring labour, paying for insurance, and carrying out essential repairs and maintenance on tractors, mechanical harvesters, lorries, and other machinery.

Importantly, the timing of this payment ensures that it will be delivered without any deductions, such as those for fertilizers, land lease fees, loans, or harvesting advances, allowing farmers to receive the full amount in cash. This approach provides direct financial support to assist them in reinvesting in their farming operations and preparing effectively for the upcoming season.