20 Head to India for Training at Top Institute
Twenty employees from the Fiji Sugar Corporation will undergo training at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) in India, sponsored by the Government of India.
They visited the Indian High Commissioner, Vishvas Sapkal, at the Indian Embassy in Suva yesterday. Mr Sapkal said the workers had a good opportunity to receive this training.
“Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) is a renowned institute and it has basically 150 sugar factories in the region,” he said.
“I am sure you will definitely enhance your skills after going there and this includes a lot of site visits including farms and sugar factories which are nearby Pune.
“The purpose of the training is to enhance the skills of the participants for delivering modern technologies in sugarcane farming to end-users and to educate participants about modern technology in sugarcane industry. I want to wish all the very best to you.”
The Vasantdada Sugar Institute in Pune, Maharashtra, is under the Indian Technical and Economic Corporation (ITEC) scheme of the India government.
The FSC employees will be undergoing training in two groups of 10 participants. The first group will undergo a certificate course in sugar boiling at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute from January 15 to February 11.
The second group will undergo a certificate course in sugar cane development from January 15 to February 25.
Team leader for Malolo and Qeleloa and District Co-ordinator (FSC) for Nadi, Arun Prakash, said FSC intended to empower and enhance the skill levels of its workers.
“This in regards to dealing with farmers and increasing cane production and upskilling themselves,” said Mr Prakash.
“Boilers are sugar makers who work in the factory and they will have an opportunity to upskill their knowledge and bring it back and apply it at FSC.
“We can learn from India as it is highly regarded as the major producers and they have high yield.
“We want to see what they are doing there, which will help our sugarcane growers and at the same time the sugar industry.”
Mr Prakash said the Fijian Government had provided a lot of support to the farmers.
“They are backing the industry and it has a firm belief that the sugar industry is here to stay. So, it’s a really good opportunity to upgrade our skills and to come back to Fiji to our workplace and apply it.”
Edited by Naisa Koroi
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