A 53-year-old farmer, Kishore Lal, has received a 13-month suspended sentence from the Ba Magistrates’ Court after admitting to the deliberate burning of sugarcane crops in Navau, Ba. This serious offense took place on July 9, 2024, when Lal set fire to a farm owned by Ajay Kumar, resulting in the loss of approximately 200 tonnes of sugarcane valued at $21,500. The fire also spread to neighboring farms belonging to Sushila Devi and Kailash Pati, damaging crops worth $17,000 and $5,950, respectively.
Witnesses from the police observed Lal at the scene of the fire, and he later confessed to the authorities during questioning. In her ruling on October 27, Magistrate Namarata Mishra emphasized the gravity of the crime, noting its potential impact on the livelihoods of affected farmers. However, she also acknowledged Lal’s early guilty plea, remorse, and his lack of prior convictions, leading to a mitigated sentence.
Initially sentenced to 15 months in prison, the term was reduced due to these factors and was suspended for a period of three years. Lal will face the activation of his sentence if he reoffends during this time.
This incident underscores ongoing concerns within the agricultural community regarding arson and its detrimental effects on farmers’ incomes and the wider agricultural economy. Minister for Sugar, Charan Jeath Singh, has previously raised alarms over a series of arson attacks targeting cane farms and called for stricter penalties and thorough investigations into these incidents, which not only devastate individual farms but also threaten the overall sustainability of the sugar industry in Fiji.
The situation remains critical, with the community grappling with the repercussions of such actions. Nonetheless, there is hope that through increased vigilance and government support, the agricultural sector can develop more resilient practices and recover from these challenges. This collective effort is vital in ensuring that farmers can protect their livelihoods and contribute positively to the economy.