35% of cultivable land unused - 20% held by overseas farmers, 15% in dispute

Sugarcane farmers in the country are facing a critical challenge as 35 percent of cultivable land remains unused.

A large portion of this land—about 20 percent—is being held by overseas farmers, primarily from Australia, America and Canada, who are not producing any sugar and the remaining 15 percent of land lies idle due to ongoing family disputes, where legal battles, over inheritance and ownership prevent farming activities.

This issue was raised by Minister for Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh while speaking to fijivillage News.

Singh says if someone leases land but fails to produce sugar or alternative crops, the land should be returned to active farmers in Fiji, who are ready and willing to work it.

The Minister says these farmers need to either come back and work the land or allow local farmers to take over through share farming agreements.

When asked about the issue of penalties for absentee landowners, Singh says they are very serious about this and the message is clear - if they do not come and adhere to the contractual agreement and if the lease is cancelled, they are to blame.

He adds there is a clear agreement when a farmer leases land, either from TLTB, State land or freehold land, they have to produce.

He says they can not just sit on land and produce grass.

Singh says the Ministry will first give notices to leaseholders to step up and do what they are supposed to do and if they do not, then their will be other legislations that will be passed for them to either adhere to the agreements or lose that piece of land.

The Minister says the goal is not to chase away farmers but to ensure that land is put to productive use for the benefit of Fiji’s sugar industry.