Sadha Lata Singh, a 58-year-old former educator, has no regrets about her transition from a career as a secondary school teacher and lecturer to becoming a sugarcane farmer. Ms. Singh spent 24 years teaching before joining the Technical College of Fiji (TCF) in 2015. However, when TCF closed its doors in 2020, she was forced to seek a new career.
Inspired by her husband, Indar Deo, a 65-year-old retired police officer who owns a 13.5-acre sugarcane farm, Ms. Singh took the plunge into agriculture. In 2020, she purchased a 10-acre plot in Wailevu, Labasa, initially starting with rice farming in 2022, before switching to sugarcane farming last year.
So far this year, she has successfully harvested 90 tonnes of sugarcane for the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s Labasa Mill. Reflecting on her journey, she admitted, “It wasn’t easy to move hands from holding a chalk to a pen and then a cane knife.” She noted the challenges of transitioning from a classroom environment to working outdoors, contending with both sun and rain.
Ms. Singh emphasized the difficulties of securing land and obtaining necessary consent from landowners for lease renewals. Despite these challenges, she finds that farming has contributed positively to her health.
“I encourage mothers who have lost their jobs or are struggling to never lose hope. I am fortunate to have a son who is an engineer and supports my business by purchasing a tractor,” she remarked. Learning the ropes of sugarcane farming from her husband played a pivotal role in her journey, as she aimed to assist in his retirement plan.
Grateful for the support from her family, she expressed, “I thank God for blessing me with a supportive husband and son, which has made my life easier.” Looking ahead, Ms. Singh plans to incorporate mechanization into her farming practices.
Recently, she was among 58 individuals who received grants from the government at the Sugar Cane Growers Fund office in Labasa, aimed at assisting with land lease renewals.