More than half of Fiji’s sugarcane farm leases have now been renewed as government-led efforts to secure land for the industry gather pace, Minister for the Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna told Parliament on Friday. Of 2,362 leases processed across sugar-producing regions, 1,128 holdings — or 56 per cent — have been successfully renewed, the minister said.
Renewal progress varies sharply by region. The Southwest region encompassing Nadi and Sigatoka leads the country with an 89 per cent renewal rate, while the Northern Division is at 70 per cent. By contrast, the Northwest corridor from Lautoka to Rakiraki lags well behind, with just 23 per cent of leases renewed. Tunabuna said the low renewal rate in the Northwest partly reflects ongoing inspections and consultations, noting that 415 holdings — which he said represents 88 per cent of leases in that corridor — are at various stages of inspection and consultation. “This is not a sign of stagnation, but a sign of due diligence,” he told MPs, adding that consultations are necessary to harmonise tenant and landowner interests before documentation is finalised.
Tunabuna identified the cost of premium fees as a core barrier preventing growers from renewing leases. To tackle that, the government has stepped in with financial measures through the Sugarcane Growers Fund. Under the scheme, growers receive a direct grant equal to 30 per cent of the premium fee, capped at $7,500 per grower. The fund then offers loans for the remaining balance at a concessional interest rate of 3.99 per cent; growers also retain the option to pay in cash or seek financing from other institutions.
“The primary barrier to lease renewal has historically been the financial burden of the premium fees,” Tunabuna said, asserting the government’s position that land security costs should not impede national production. He described the 3.99 per cent loans as “highly concessional and competitive,” intended to make the balance of fees manageable for smallholders and larger growers alike.
The minister stressed that addressing land and lease challenges requires coordinated action across government agencies. Tunabuna said his ministry is working with other arms of government to remove bottlenecks in the renewal process, from inspections and consultations to final documentation. He urged a “whole-of-Government approach,” noting the complexity of land issues in Fiji and the need to protect both tenant and landowner rights.
The parliamentary update provides the latest measurable snapshot of the renewal drive: of the 2,362 processed leases, 1,128 have been renewed while 1,234 remain in various stages of inspection, consultation or processing. While the headline renewal rate surpasses the halfway mark and financial assistance is being scaled up, substantial regional gaps remain — particularly in the Northwest corridor — underscoring that the renewal programme is still a work in progress. Tunabuna’s briefing signals the government’s commitment to clear those remaining hurdles to stabilise land tenure for the sugar sector.