THE Fiji Cane Growers Association (FCGA) has proposed a minimum guaranteed price of $80 per tonne of sugarcane.
This is to ensure farmers are able to sustain their livelihood in future.
Bala Dass, who made submissions on behalf of the association, said a guaranteed price of $80 would earn farmers producing an average of 200 tonnes of cane a net income of $6900 per annum.
He said while this was still $8100 below the tax threshold of $15000 and the poverty line, the farmers would be able to sustain their livelihood by subsistence farming, cultivation of cash crops and diversification with support from the State.
The FCGA also proposed that the 3 per cent tax levied on sugar exports be abolished. Mr Dass submitted that the commission recommend the immediate conduct of elections for the Sugar Cane Growers Council.
"The farmers cannot be expected to pay a levy and not have a direct voice in the industry," Mr Dass said.
"The growers elections will help democratise the industry and help boost the farmers' morale."
The association also proposed that the electoral system should be changed from alternative vote to common roll and elections should be held under proportional representation (PR) system.
Mr Dass said under the PR system there should be a national constituency unlike what was proposed by the People's Charter to divide the country into four constituencies.