A new savings scheme for Fiji’s sugarcane farmers was unveiled today as part of a partnership between the Sugar Cane Growers Fund (SCGF) and the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), marking a shift from short-term relief to building longer-term financial resilience in an industry beset by recent shocks. Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and the Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna announced the initiative, which will let farmers opt for voluntary deductions from their cane proceeds to accumulate savings under the SCGF’s Special Social Security Savings scheme.
The voluntary deductions are intended to give farmers a mechanism to smooth income volatility, build emergency buffers and strengthen retirement security by linking cane payments directly to savings accounts. The SCGF will administer the scheme in partnership with FNPF, leveraging the provident fund’s expertise in managed savings and member services, Tunabuna said. No mandatory contributions were announced; participation will be at the discretion of individual growers.
The announcement was made alongside a separate agreement with Computer 1 to digitise farmer records. Officials say the digital platform will improve farmers’ access to documentation and services — from proof of payments to easier loan applications — and is designed with particular attention to supporting women farmers, who often face barriers to formal financial services. The digital work is backed by funding under the UNDP Pacific Digital Economy Programme and the Asian Development Bank, which will help roll out the technology and build capacity at village and cooperative levels.
The move comes amid a period of disruption for Fiji’s sugar sector. Government agencies and industry bodies have recently been focused on emergency relief measures — including compensation for cane redirected after the Rarawai mill fire and targeted support for growers affected by pre-season burnt cane — but those short-term interventions have highlighted the sector’s exposure to shocks. Tunabuna positioned the SCGF–FNPF savings option as a complementary, longer-term response that aims to reduce growers’ dependence on ad hoc assistance.
Industry stakeholders welcomed the focus on financial security and digitisation but cautioned that uptake will depend on farmers’ trust in the system and the ease of accessing savings when needed. Digitised records are expected to reduce administrative delays that have hampered past support efforts and to make it easier for women and smaller-scale growers to demonstrate eligibility for services and loans. The SCGF has previously played a role in emergency support and loan facilitation; adding a voluntary savings product broadens its toolkit for farmer welfare.
Officials said further details — including enrollment procedures, the mechanics of deductions from cane proceeds, and timelines for the digital roll-out — will be released by the SCGF and FNPF in coming weeks. With international partners funding the digital element, the initiative aims to marry financial inclusion with technological upgrades, offering farmers new ways to build savings while streamlining access to government and private-sector support.
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