SUGAR Cane Growers Fund chairman Ahemad Bhamji has urged district staff to educate farmers on their new programs.
Speaking during the signing and handing over of mortgage protection insurance covers to growers in Lautoka recently, Mr Bhamji said there were certain procedures that farmers must know.
“All the growers with loans below $30,000 are automatically covered, and those over $30,000; we urge others to sign up the forms at the earliest,” he said.
“The loan coverage is a maximum of $50,000. The growers fund will pay one premium per account, and this is to an annual tune of $0.500m.”
Mr Bhamji also requested staff in all districts to educate the farmers to ensure adherence to the procedures.
“They might think that it is automatically done for you and done for me, and they need to be told about these things.
“Just doing it in a meeting or making a press statement does not work. So, we have to educate our farmers.”
He said the mortgage insurance protection program was a first of its kind in Fiji.
“Because the premium is paid by us and not by the farmer.
“In case of the death of the grower, the loans will be paid off and you (farmers) have to notify our officers within three months after death and lodge claims.
“The cover also includes permanent disabilities and after notification and waiting period of six months, it will be paid off.
“The claims will require a death certificate and doctor’s report with other details that can be provided by our officers.”
Mr Bhamji said if farmers had pre-existing illnesses, they may or may not be covered under the scheme.
“As mentioned, the premium by SCGF is paid for one per person per account, and if there are more than one as joint owners, it will be proportionally covered and/or the grower has the choice to pay additional premium to cover additional persons.
“The whole reason for this scheme is, we do not want the family, especially the spouses, and in particular, as in most cases, women to be burdened with loans after the death of her husband.”