British colonial masters had introduced the concept of sugar cane farming in Fiji along with other crops.
To make it happen they imported indentured Indian labourers from 1879 to 1916.
The indentured laborers cleared the virgin forests, plowed the land, and planted sugarcane crops. It flourished on the fertile volcanic soils of Fiji.
Eventually, sugar cane farming became the backbone of the Fijian economy.
Thousands of families were directly or indirectly employed by it.
Four sugar mills (Lautoka .. largest, Penang, RakiRaki, and Labasa) established by the British kept the people happy and the economy in good shape.
Some indentured labourers returned to India while others preferred to stay back and make their living here.
However, sugar cane farming does not have all good stories to tell.
It reeked of abuse by the white overseers and the supervisors. Cases of violence and rape were rampant.
Murders and suicides were frequent.
As time passed by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company dished out small parcels of land to indentured labourers for sugar cane farming.
It ensured regular supply of freshly harvested cane to the sugar mills.
It produced good quality sugar, which was exported to the consuming centres.
Thus, this trade flourished and became a success story.
Soon, the land lease ran out and sugar cane farmers were ejected from their lands.
Mass migration to urban centres occured and many families were disrupted.
Displaced farmers looked for jobs in towns and cities, which gave them a steady income.
Thus, the pattern of life changed, and the sugar industry slumped.
Attempts were made to get the Indian farmers back on their farm, but this failed as young people were no longer interested in cane farming – a backbreaking job.
International competition from other sugar producers and the prices on the international market was yet another factor in the downturn in the industry.
Many attempts have been made to revive the industry, but it has not succeeded.
The current Minister for Sugar, Charan Jeath Singh, has made some brave attempts to revive the industry.
It is heartening that Ra mill will be revived to provide white sugar.
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