Sugar cane
VulcanSpirit
Richard & Alison Brunstrom
Sun 14 Oct 2012 07:03
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Fiji has got it together as a country to a greater
extent than any other we have visited in the Pacific. The economy is growing and
exports (vegetables to NZ, bauxite to China, sugar to I know not where) are
healthy. The sugar industry is interesting. Last year they exported 100 000 tons
of refined sugar; this year they are hoping for more.
This is harvest time; here are the local farmers
waiting patiently and with very good humour outside the Labasa Sugar
Mill:
 They may be waiting for 24hrs or more, but the
profits make it worthwhile. There used to be a very extensive sugar railway
network. Some of it is still operational but in a sad state of repair, but
it's clear that lorries are just more efficient, especially in the hillier
terrain. Cane grows particularly well in wet areas like this
 The industry shows up some of Fiji's problems. The
land is still owned almost entirely by native Fijians who lease it to Indian
tenant farmers. The leases tend to be short term, and sometimes are not
renewed leaving the tenant farmers destitute. Much usable land is lying
fallow because the native Fijians landowners do not want to farm, and the
short-term leases do not encourage the Indians to invest as much time as they
might in maintaining their farms. However some Indian sugar farmers, largely
through hard work, have become quite rich leading some native Fijians to resent
them. This land question is rightly featuring large in the discussions over the
new Constitution - land having been indirectly the cause of several of the
coups.
But overall this industry is a big success story, a
spirit of reconciliation is palpable and bodes well for the
future.
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