PM BAINIMARAMA HANDS OVER GRANT AGREEMENT TO SUGARCANE GROWERS FUND-(15-10-2020)

Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama today handed over the Grant Agreement from the Ministry of Sugar to the Sugarcane Growers Fund which would fully cover the sugarcane farmers’ premium for their bundled insurance for the last six months of this year.

The $300,731.76 grant agreement will ease financial burdens by way of premium payments for cane growers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Fijian Government made a commitment to strengthen our Sugar Industry-to make it more robust, modern, efficient, competitive, and more profitable and we are seeing results,” the Prime Minister said.

“We have guaranteed a price of $85 per tonne, and we will keep our word. We have invested in mechanisation to make harvesting more efficient, and we have vastly improved our mills. We have been upgrading the cane roads and covering cartage costs. We are subsidising fertilizer and weedicide. We are providing cane-planting grants and technical assistance to cane growers and we are seeing results.

“All of these investments are investments in our cane growers’ financial security.”

The Prime Minister said it would have been a “step backward” to force growers to make premium payments during this difficult time.

“The Government does not shrink or hesitate in the face of adversity. As we faced down and contained the COVID-19 outbreak in Fiji, so we have mustered the resources to stand up for our farmers with this payment.”

Speaking on the Bundled Insurance Scheme, Prime Minister Bainimarama said the Scheme has been offered by the Fiji Care Insurance since 2017.

“The Scheme covers death, fire, personal accident and funeral costs. It was developed by the cane growers and the Sugarcane Growers Fund, with some financial support provided by the Pacific Financial Inclusion Program, Sugarcane Growers Council and Fiji Sugar Corporation,” he added.

“We covered nearly 12,000 active cane growers under the age of 65 through this Scheme at a relatively low premium, and the Sugarcane Growers Fund volunteered to pay the premium for all registered growers for the first three years.”

The Fund has paid a total of more than $1.8mllion in premiums from July 2017 through June 2020. Today, a grower from Ba, was also handed a cheque of $3,000 as part of his insurance claim payout.

“Government is pleased to be able to assist the cane growers once again as we weather an extraordinarily difficult situation together. Our cane growers do a great service to this country, and they deserve to thrive in a modern, profitable industry that provides a good life for them and their families. That is the Government’s hope and mission.”

Ends.