Sabeto farmers turn to tobacco farming
Farmers have slowly switched from sugarcane to tobacco farming in most parts of Nadi. In Sabeto, large areas that used to be sugarcane fields are now tobacco farms.
Akuila Nacegutuilagi is one of the many tobacco farmers at Balenakula in Sabeto. The 33-year-old farms his land during his leisure.
Nacegutuilagi said he started growing tobacco for British American Tobacco (Fiji) Limited this year.
He said the crop is harvested twice a year and looks like a healthy business to do.
“This is my first year to grow tobacco. Before I used to grow sugarcane but I cleared up the place and now grow tobacco for British American Tobacco,” Nacegutuilagi said. “I am an electrician but I work on my farm during my spare time and it also is my second means of income. Tobacco normally matures in three months that is when we start harvesting which would take up another three months. “Normally in a year I would grow tobacco twice.
“This is my first year so I want to see if it’s any good going into tobacco farming.”
British American Tobacco provides the seedlings, fertilizer, labour and ploughs the farms.
Mr Nacegutuilagi said all of this is deducted from their payment.
“We are paid according to the grade of tobacco. Grade one is 46 cents, grade two 44 cents and grade three 27 cents,” he said.
“On the farms we weed, hoe and take out the suckers everyday.”
With the sugar industry going through one of its toughest times in history, farmers are slowing switching to tobacco farming.
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Sabeto farmers
