The sugarcane sector in Fiji enjoyed accelerated growth after leasing arrangements made through the vision of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna helped the industry, and Indo-Fijian farmers, thrive.
Today, the industry is one which is multiracial and needs to be looked after carefully, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad.
Speaking at a leadership conference in Lami on Friday, Prof Prasad also reflected on Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna’s life and legacy, especially for the sugarcane industry.
“The iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) would not be what it is today without Ratu Sukuna’s understanding of the importance of the sugar industry and its link to the Indo-Fijian community, who chose to make Fiji their home at the end of the Indenture period in 1916,” he said.
“Ratu Sukuna’s efforts later evolved into a legitimate tenancy arrangement when the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (ALTO) was formulated in 1966, that required the minimum tenure of a lease to be 10 years.
“Ten years later after ALTO and in 1976, progress was made when the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Act (ALTA) was enacted – increasing the minimum tenure of all agricultural leases to 30 years.”
Prof Prasad said when Indo-Fijians had better access to native land leasing arrangements and security of tenure, this confidence helped boost sugar into the economic mainstay of the economy for several decades.
“Despite the industry’s downturn, it continues to directly and directly impact the livelihoods of 200,000 people of Fiji or more than 20 per cent of our population.
“Despite the common stereotype, canefarmers are now very much a multiracial industry and it needs to be looked at carefully now after the industry has been gutted by the poor policies and mismanagement of the previous government.
“The vision to establish the NLTB to administer leases for all native land on behalf of the landowners and the recognition of land use needs for agriculture of the Indo-Fijian population, and now leasing by iTaukei themselves as current trends show, is a perfect demonstration of Ratu Sukuna’s manifestation of trust.”
