With 100 per cent of its staff vaccinated with the first jab of AstraZeneca vaccine, Sugar Cane Growers Fund (SCGF) is encouraging farmers to follow suit. SCGF chief executive officer

With 100 per cent of its staff vaccinated with the first jab of AstraZeneca vaccine, Sugar Cane Growers Fund (SCGF) is encouraging farmers to follow suit.

SCGF chief executive officer Raj Sharma said 28 of the fund’s staff had received their first jab while four staff were fully vaccinated.

He said within eight to ten weeks, all 32 staff members were expected to be fully vaccinated.

“It is my humble request to our farmers to get yourself and your families vaccinated,” he said.

He said reaching targeted vaccinated population would help ease economic stress.

Mr Sharma added the fund had undertaken various strategies for the safety of its staff and members.

“We provide pick up and drop off of our staff to be COVID-19 safe.

“We also have regular communication with our staff which includes two meetings in a week.

“Additionally, some of our staff also work from home and our ICT services have upgraded so our officers can approve loans from anywhere.”

He said the Fund would be launching its online services in a bid to transition into digital space during the global pandemic.

SCGF manager information technology Sheetal Shalini said the fund was looking at integrating its IT systems to its financial systems through the three online services:

Alert Services
This is where following notifications would be provided:
–  Loan approval/declined
–  Loan disbursedment
–  Cash repayment
–  Canepay refund
–  Arrears reminder
–  Bulk SMS to growers

Online portal (Cane Care)
Growers would be able to :
–  View their account balance
–  View transactions
–  Download financial statements

Cane Care mobile application
Growers would be able to:
– View account summary for all loans
– View transactions
– Download financial statements
– Apply loans for existing customers and track status
–  Submit loan enquiry for new customers
–  Option to receive news from SCGF
– Option to lodge complain/enquiry with SCGF and track on the status.

Ms Shalini said training of front desk staff to use the online services would begin from next week.

“After penetration tests so the online services are free from hacking, and training of front desk staff, we can safely launch the services.”