Elderly canefarmers in Seaqaqa are concerned that their old age has affected their chances of renewal of leases.
This was an issue raised at yesterday’s consultation with the iTaukei Land Trust Board, Fiji Sugar Corporation and Sugar Cane Growers Fund held at Solove Primary School.
Farmer Prakash Chandar told the consultation that they had experienced this with the TLTB.
He said when they applied for lease under their names, they were advised to write it to their children because of the applicant’s (farmer) old age.
Farmers who have experienced this told the consultation that their old age had been cited as the reason for not having the lease registered under their names.
Advisory councillor and farmer Basant Prasad said he had also witnessed similar cases.
“These are farmers between the ages of 60 and 70 who cannot have their leases renewed under their names because of their old age and have been advised to write the lease to their children who are working,” he said.
“The disadvantage of this is that the elderly farmers, once they renew their lease under their children’s names, their children tend to sell the farm without informing their parents.”
Mr Prasad asked the TLTB to look into these issues because it’s the elderly farmers who remain on the farms.
“Right now, there are more elderly farmers on the farms. Their children have moved on to cities and towns for other jobs.”
TLTB deputy general manager Solomoni Nata said this was an important issue when it came to consistency in productivity on the farm and would look into such cases.
