Flooding in the Western Division has damaged cane fields, disrupted transport routes, and heightened the vulnerability of our farming communities, says Minister for Agriculture, Waterways, and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna.
Speaking at the Sugar Cane Growers Fund office in Lautoka Mr Tunabuna said they were also acutely aware of the increasing impact of climate-related events.
“These realities reinforce the importance of building a more climate-resilient sugar industry — one that is better protected, better supported, and better prepared,” Mr Tunabuna said.
He said in response to these challenges, the Government and SCGF were committed to providing tangible relief.
“I am pleased to highlight several new initiatives and products designed to ease the burden on our farmers:
- Interest Rate Reductions: Effective January 1, 2026, interest rates on all productive loan accounts have been reduced from 4.5 per cent to 3.95 per cent. For those championing our green initiatives with at least 75 per cent green cane harvest, the rate is further reduced to 3.5 per cent.
- Commercial Specialised Loans: A new product targeted at growers with supplemental income to help them manage and regularise their repayments.
- SCGF-FNPF Voluntary Savings Scheme: we are bridging the gap between farming and formal social security. Through this partnership, growers can now have deductions made directly from their cane proceeds toward their FNPF accounts. This ensures that our farmers are not just working for today but are building a pension and medical safety net for their retirement.
- Revolving Credit Facilities: To address the immediate “cash-on-hand” needs of our farmers, especially those currently recovering from recent flood damage, we have enhanced our revolving credit line. This allows growers to access flexible funds for urgent farm maintenance, labour costs, and every day expenses without the need for a new loan application every time.
- Mortgage Protection Insurance (MPI) with TISA: Through our partnership with TISA Insurance, we have launched a first-of-its-kind mortgage protection program.
“This policy ensures that in the event of a grower’s death or permanent disability, their outstanding SCGF loan balance — up to $50,000 — is paid off, protecting families from the burden of debt. Remarkably, SCGF is fully covering the initial premiums for growers from 2025 to 2027.”
