Sadha Lata Singh, 58, has embraced a significant career transition from being a secondary school teacher and lecturer to becoming a sugarcane farmer without any regrets.
After dedicating 24 years to teaching, she joined the Technical College of Fiji (TCF) in 2015 but had to seek a new career path when TCF closed in 2020. During her time at home, she found motivation in her husband, Indar Deo, 65, who owns a 13.5-acre sugarcane farm and is a retired police officer.
In 2020, Ms. Singh acquired a 10-acre plot in Wailevu, Labasa, initially starting rice farming in 2022 before shifting her focus to sugarcane farming last year. This year, she has successfully harvested 90 tonnes of sugarcane for the Fiji Sugar Corporation Labasa Mill.
“It wasn’t easy to move from holding a chalk to a pen and then a cane knife,” she noted. She acknowledged the challenges of transitioning from a classroom environment to working on a farm in various weather conditions, as well as the complexities of securing land and renewing leases.
Despite the challenges, Ms. Singh finds that her farming work contributes positively to her health. “I encourage mothers who have lost their jobs or are facing difficulties to never give up hope. I am blessed to have a son who is an engineer and supports my business by purchasing a tractor,” she added.
She acquired her sugarcane farming skills by assisting her husband as part of his retirement plan. “I thank God for blessing me with a supportive husband and son, which has made my life easier,” she stated.
Looking ahead, she plans to further her operations into mechanisation. Recently, she was among 58 recipients who received a grant from the government at the Sugar Cane Growers Fund office in Labasa to help with land lease renewals.