Bula Vinaka, Namaste, and a very good morning to you all.
At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the past, current, and emerging owners of this land and thank them for allowing us to gather here today.
I warmly acknowledge:
- Sukanacagi Na Turaga Tui Vitogo – Lautoka
- The- Chief Guest for this Morning – Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Waterways, & Sugar Industry – Hon Inosi Kuridrani
- UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Resident Representative
- Government officials;
- Heads of Sugar Industry ;
- Representatives from FNPF;
- Representatives from Datec;
- Respectful Growers;
- Fellow Board Members, CEO, Management & Staff;
- Media representatives, ladies and gentlemen.
On behalf of the Sugar Cane Growers Fund, I extend my deepest gratitude for your presence as we mark a historic milestone in our journey to empower cane farmers through financial innovation. Thank you very much Hon Inosi Kuridrani.
We have just concluded the three Mills’ Prime Minister’s Sugar Cane Farmers’ Award and what a wonderful occasion it had been to recognize the top performers, male, female, innovate and youth farmers.
The Hon Minister Today marks another step forward in strengthening the resilience of our farmers and the sugar industry. It is a profound honor to stand here today and witness the new initiative taken up by SCGF. For decades, our growers have carried the weight of Fiji’s sugar industry with resilience and dedication. Yet many continue to face financial insecurity, limited access to savings and insurance mechanisms, and the challenges to seasonal income.
While many growers have worked tirelessly to provide for their families and invest in their children’s education and wellbeing. Limited financial planning opportunities and competing priorities have often made it difficult to build adequate savings for the future.
Some farmers supported their livelihood with sustainable savings mechanisms such as FNPF contributions. This initiative seeks to change that by placing empathy, care, and future security at the center of financial support for cane growers.
The Hon. Minister, Today, we take a bold step forward. With the Launch SCGF –Special Social Security Savings Scheme & Insurance, [SCGF 5SI] we are addressing these challenges head‑on. This initiative is not just a financial product; it is a transformative instrument designed to secure the future of our farmers and strengthen the sugar industry. Due to limitation in our SCGF Act, the review of the ACT is now with the Ministry
We also have other projects
- A Special Revolving Loan Facility on the mobile money wallets (MyCash and M-Paisa) —first of its kind in Fiji — expected to roll out in September 2026. Both initiatives are funded again by the United Nations Capital Development Fund.
- An Online Document Management System and AI-powered chatbot, expected by September 2026 and funded by the Asian Development Bank.
- Exploration of Medical Insurance Coverage options for growers.
- Greater use of Artificial Intelligence to improve Service Delivery and Operational Efficiency.
In closing, I wish to thank Pacific Digital Economy Programme which is jointly implemented by UNDP and UNCDF, and the European Union, the Governments of Australia and New Zealand for their partnership. Our vendors – DATEC and Speridian for their innovation, FNPF for the collaboration and most importantly, our growers — the backbone of this industry. Together, we are not only addressing today’s financial challenges but building a foundation for generations to come.
Let us move forward with confidence, unity and purpose. The Sugar Cane Growers Fund stands ready to deliver financial innovation that empowers our farmers, strengthens our communities and secures our nation’s future.
Vinaka Vakalevu, Dhanyavaad, and Thank you very much.
