Women Contribute 12% Of Sugar Production

Fiji’s 1,469 women cane growers, who represent 13 per cent of cane farmers, produced a total of 202,510.58 tonnes of sugarcane, in 2020.

This represented around 12 per cent of the total sugar cane produced in the country.

The comments during the International Women’s Day celebrations, were made at the Sugar Cane Growers Fund head office in Lautoka.

Director of Research, Planning and Policy in the Ministry of Sugar, Reshmi Kumari, said women drove tractors and lorries, worked on sugar cane farms as labourers, harvested cane, and engaged in small agro businesses.

“They have proven and impressively demonstrated that they are self-determined, and have the ability to take risks involved in cane farming,” Ms Kumari said.

“Other women were involved in cane cultivation, farm management, cane cutters, mechanical harvesters, and took banks loans, in the interest of business development."

New Farmers Assistance Programme

A total of 45 women have been assisted under the New Farmers Assistance Programme, to acquire land.

“One grower purchased a mechanical harvester.”

Sole Female Representation At Board Level

Ms Kumari is the only women representative in the sugar industry, at board level.

“I request all stakeholders of the sugar industry, management and board directors of the various sugar institutions to improve on the current eight per cent number of female staff represented in the sugar industry,” she said.

Ms Kumari said women and girls needed to be at the center of planning and action in various fraternities that included climate action, to drive sustainability in the industry.

“I strongly urge our coordinated industry effort to #BreakTheBias, revamp our human resource recruitment policies, and allow more women and girls to gain access to employment in various sugar institutions,” she said.

“We also need to empower more women to join the sugarcane industry and support the goals of sustainability of the sugar industry.”

Socio-Economic

Sugar Cane Growers Fund chief executive officer, Raj Sharma, said females played an important role in the socio-economic space of growth and development.

“Women were, are and will be the pillars of all the success; the sugar industry is no exception,” Mr Sharma said.

“At the Sugar Cane Growers Fund, we provide equal opportunities in all dimensions for the women leaders and employees."

“We value our women work force and are proud to say that we have a dynamic women work force at the Sugar Cane Growers Fund.”

Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj