Dr. Vinesh Kumar, the Permanent Secretary for the Sugar Industry, emphasized the critical need for improvements in native land governance to fortify Fiji’s sugar industry and enhance agricultural production. Speaking at the 2025 Attorney-General’s Conference, Dr. Kumar highlighted that persistent delays in land approvals and antiquated processes are hindering investment in farming, particularly within sugar cane cultivation and commercial agriculture.
He pointed out that establishing lease security, expediting processing, and clarifying land-use regulations are essential to assist farmers in planning for the long term and attracting new participants to the agricultural sector. “The land tenure system has turned into a macroeconomic challenge. It is vital that we deeply examine our approach to the sector, especially considering the volume of products we are currently importing,” said Dr. Kumar.
In his address, he noted that enhancing land administration would also benefit other vital agricultural sectors. He shared that between 1997 and 2023, a total of 9,936 agricultural leases expired, with 66% renewed, 17.7% awarded to new tenants, and 12.5% retained for landowners. He projected that from 2023 to 2030, an additional 1,374 land leases will enter expiration.
Dr. Kumar clarified that the aim of these reforms is not to undermine the protection of native land, but rather to optimize the system to benefit landowners, farmers, and national development as a whole. This approach reflects a positive step towards reforming the agricultural landscape in Fiji, where both productivity and sustainability in farming can be significantly improved to meet current and future demands.
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