Minister for Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh is calling on sugarcane farmers who reside overseas to surrender their leases.

In a press conference today, Singh revealed that it has come to their attention that these farmers are not producing any sugar.

Singh says he will discuss the issue with the Minister for Itaukei Affairs and the Minister for Lands to identify farmers. If they are not cultivating the land, they should be given notice.

He says Sugarcane farmers who reside overseas are not the genuine farmers that they would like to have.

Singh shared that they have decided to call out to these farmers, after hearing some farmers complain to him at an event, about landowners not wanting to renew their leases.

He says that he found out later that these landowners had not planted anything on their leased land.

He says the stories of the landowners are not normally told when it comes to them not wanting to renew leases.

The Minister says when this happens, good prime land where sugarcane can be grown, goes to waste.