Lease expiry threatens future of sugar industry

More than 400 sugarcane land leases in Macuata are set to expire within six years, raising concerns about the future of the sugar industry.

This was revealed by Minister for Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh, who is spearheading a long-term solution.

“I have spoken to Prime Minister Sitveni Rabuka and other relevant ministers on this issue,” Mr Singh said. “We are trying to see how best we can resolve it.”

He said the Government understood that some landowners might want to reclaim their land but stressed the importance of ensuring productive use.

“If you want to take the land back, then you have to cultivate. The sugar industry cannot survive if large areas of land lay idle.”

Mr Singh claimed previous governments failed to address ongoing lease concerns. “These issues should have been negotiated years ago. Resolutions could have been made with landowners to secure continuity.”

Proposal

He suggested a new approach where the Government pays lump-sum premiums to landowners and takes up the head lease.

“The Government pays the premium and deals directly with the farmer. This way, the landowners and the farmers value each other.”

He said a Cabinet sub-committee would be formed to negotiate with landowners and seek a balanced path forward.

“If we are not careful, the industry could suffer major damage,” he said.

Reactions

Mohammed Idrisi, 69, a sugarcane farmer of Batinikama, Labasa, said the main downfall of the sugar industry was the expiry of land leases.

“Most of the sugarcane farms in Batinikama, Labasa will expire in six to eight years,” Mr Idrisi said.

“As the expiry dates draw closer, sugarcane farmers give up hope of continuing farming. I have requested Mr Singh to do something about the expiry of land leases.”

Mr Idrisi said it was important to engage iTaukei landowners and work with sugarcane farmers. He has been in the sugarcane farming business since the age of 19.

Lagalaga, Labasa sugarcane farmer Yogendra Ram said land lease renewals remained his biggest worry. Mr Ram said iTaukei landowners should understand the economic contribution sugarcane farmers make to the nation.

He said if leases were not renewed on time, the sugarcane industry would collapse; however, there was still time to change this.

Mr Ram added that every year more sugarcane farmers leave the industry because of lease sustainability issues.

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