As one of the biggest industry in Fiji, the history about Fiji’s sugar industry reflects a lot about Fiji’s Independence journey.

Sugar cane is thought to be indigenous to the islands of the South Pacific.

The history of sugar cane during the 1870s, and over the years, thirty-four small sugar mills were estab­lished throughout the country.

Sugar Cane Growers Fund (SCGF) chief executive of­ficer, Raj Sharma said SCGF was formed before Fiji’s Independence.

Mr Sharma said sugar had been Fiji’s economic back­bone years back and things within the industry has changed over the years.

“There have been a decline in sugar productions, number of growers also reduced, however sugar cane farming is very close to hearts of those who have been brought up in the cane farming community,” he said.

“About 20 per cent of the populace depends on sugar cane farming in Fiji.”

He said the sugar industry was a main income earner and stood tall.

“History goes back to 1862 and mills in Levuka and Suva and links to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company reforms, Fiji Sugar Corporation formation on 1st April 1973,” he said.

Mr Sharma said during the colonial period, the farm­ers had declined and so had the production compared to peaks of 1990s.

“The production has declined but it holds sentimental value. However, our farmers need to rethink and must work with integrated approach; more than one crop,” he said.

“We have got very flexibility loan products from zero to 6 per cent interest rates and our fees is very nominal and there are no application fees for medical, funeral and natural disasters.

“We are always there for our cane growers, we have the personal touch and each of the growers have my di­rect contact. We have digitalised our services and for application fees are discounted by 50 per cent – online application, online balance, special attention to climate change product, special attention to women growers, support Sustainable Development Goals.”

He said the Board and Governance was very effec­tive in all dimension and they were very passionate for “Empowering the Sugar Industry.”

Mr Sharma also said there are many fond memories and links to the indentured system of Girmit and sugar industry.

About Mr Sharma

Mr Sharma has been brought up in a sugar cane farm­ing background in Labasa.

“I have worked for over 36 years as a sugar cane farm­er and then got appointed as the CEO of Sugar Cane Growers Fund, 4 years. I have also worked as a Loans Officer from 1997 to 2000 at Sugar Cane Growers Fund in Labasa,” he said.

Mr Sharma said he was proud to be a Fijian and was happy to be independent with full of resources which were difficult to find.

“If there is any place on the planet which is heaven, it is Fiji. For my company, there is an immense opportu­nity to help our people and all our sugar cane growers,” he said.

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