Fiji’s Sugar Industry: A Call for Change Amidst Absent Farmers

Fiji’s Minister for Sugar Industry, Charan Jeath Singh, has called upon sugarcane farmers residing abroad to relinquish their land leases, as many of them have not been actively cultivating their lands. During a recent press conference, Singh expressed concern that these absentee farmers are inadvertently hindering local agricultural productivity. He intends to collaborate with the Ministers for iTaukei Affairs and Lands to identify these absentee farmers and notify them if they are failing to farm their leased land.

Singh highlighted feedback from farming communities during a recent event, where some landowners reported difficulties in renewing leases due to unproductive lands held by absentee farmers. This scenario has been exacerbated by the fact that valuable agricultural land remains unutilized, leading to wasted potential for sugarcane cultivation.

The Minister’s stance aligns with previous remarks where he emphasized the need for accountability within the sugar industry, which has seen a dramatic decline in yields, with production dropping from an average of 100 tons per hectare to about 47 tons. Contributing factors to this decline include insufficient support from the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) and poor land management practices.

Mahendra Chaudhry, general secretary of the National Farmers Union, defended the rights of these absentee farmers, arguing they hold the same legal rights as other landowners. He warned that Singh’s comments might undermine agricultural stability and security, especially in light of ongoing issues surrounding lease renewals.

Singh acknowledges the challenges in the sector, yet remains hopeful that through engagement from local and committed farmers, there is a potential path forward. Enhanced productivity and renewed engagement could lead to a revitalized sugarcane industry in Fiji, benefiting both farmers and the agricultural economy in the long term.

In summary, while the sugarcane sector faces significant hurdles, Minister Singh’s call for genuine farming commitment emerges as a hopeful avenue toward revitalization and growth within Fiji’s agricultural landscape.