The future of the sugar industry in the Northern Division faces uncertainty as hundreds of sugarcane farm leases are set to expire in the coming years, reports Fiji Times.
Macuata’s Provincial Administrator, Reveni Rakasalu, said there are serious concerns, with 419 leases covering 6,630.7 hectares expected to expire within the next six years in Macuata alone. “This year will see the biggest impact, as 89 leases covering 3,798.3 hectares are due to end,” he said.
He warned that the problem could deepen, with another 52 leases expiring next year and 89 more by 2030. “If these leases are not renewed, the foundation of the sugar industry in the North will weaken,” he said.
At present, Macuata has 3,041 active leases — 473 belonging to iTaukei farmers and 2,568 to non-iTaukei farmers.
Rakasalu said the Labasa Mill had crushed a total of 1,130,784 tonnes of sugarcane over the past two years, producing thousands of tonnes of sugar. However, he warned that production could decline sharply if more land leases expire without renewal.
“In 2023, the mill crushed 555,716 tonnes of cane, producing 54,887 tonnes of sugar. In 2024, the figure rose slightly to 575,068 tonnes of cane and 57,993 tonnes of sugar. But so far this year, only 494,495 tonnes of cane have been crushed, yielding 47,692 tonnes of sugar,” he said.
Rakasalu added that the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) aims to increase cane production to 610,000 tonnes this year and reach 850,000 tonnes by 2030, but the goal depends largely on the renewal of leases. “The FSC’s plan can succeed only if landowners and farmers work hand in hand,” he said.
He appealed to landowners to cooperate with sugarcane farmers to ensure the survival of the industry that has long supported the province’s economy.
