Farmers surprised by soil type revelation

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Sugar cane farmers during a consultation on the National Sugar Industry policy in Tavua. Picture: BALJEET SINGH

THE revelation this week that soil type was a major determinant in how land rent was assessed has raised the ire of sugarcane growers in Tavua.

This after Lands Ministry staff members said they were using Agriculture Ministry’s soil sample results from the ’70s to determine land rent value today.

During the National Sugar Industry Policy consultation in Yaladro, Tavua, a number of farmers raised serious concerns after they were informed soil type was a factor in determining how much they paid in land rent.

The issue came to light after canegrower Suren Sahai claimed he had been informed by a Lands Ministry staff member that the volume of cane produced on his land was the reason for high land rental.

A representative from the Ministry of Lands, Rajiv Raj, said this was not the case.

“We do not take production into account, but we take soil type into account,” he said, adding there were various soil types around Fiji, some were productive and some were not.

This was met with surprise from farmers present, who then queried how the Lands Ministry knew what their soil type was.

Another farmer, Rajendra Raghlu, said this was the first time he had heard of land being valued by its soil type.

“I haven’t seen the Lands Department taking samples from our farms for soil sampling,” he said.

Mr Raj replied that the Agriculture Ministry had soil samples and this was accessible in their systems.

He also confirmed the last (soil) test was done in the 1970s. Calling the results obsolete, Mr Raghlu said there was a need to carry out the sampling before the reassessment for land value every five years.

“Soil is being depleted year in and year out because of erosion. We are 100 per cent flood-prone. Our land is still marked from during the Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) days and more than an acre has been taken away by flood and still we are paying.

“It is our wish if the land can be resurveyed, re-pegged and soil sampling can be done before the reassessment.”

Lands Ministry staff members at the meeting said they would note the concerns.

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