Sairul Nisha of Basoga, Labasa, had a sigh of relief when she received $4,000 insurance payout for the death and funeral expenses of her late husband, Abdul Hakim.

The 56-year-old grandmother is the first Northern recipient of the insurance payout.

The insurance was to help cane farmers during their time of need, under a new scheme put together by sugar industry stakeholders.

Her husband, 58, who died from heart attack on July 30, had been farming on his 14-acre land for more than 30 years.

With grief, Ms Nisha thanked the Sugar Cane Growers Fund loan officer administrator, Mereoni Ratu and loan officer operations Sagar Dayal for providing financial assistance.

“I never thought my husband would leave me behind alone,” the mother of two children said.

“After returning home from his brother’s house during the night, he suddenly fell down inside the house. It had been only last month that he filled in and submitted the insurance form.

“I am really thankful to the sugar industry for assisting farmers’ families in such painful times so that we can accommodate expenses in this painful moment of loss.

“It is only a wife that knows what is meant to be without the better half.

“My husband this year couldn’t harvest the cane because he was still searching for labourers.

“I don’t know how I will manage but at this moment I am thankful to God for the assistance given by the sugar industry.”

Sugar Cane Growers Fund Labasa loan officer operation Sagar Dayal said the insurance covered $3,000 for death and $1,000 for funeral expenses.

“The Fiji Care insurance is a new initiative being offered to cane growers and Ms Nisha is the first for North,” Mr Dayal said.

Feedback:  shratikan@fijisun.com.fj