The Consumer Council of Fiji and the Sugar Cane Growers Fund have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing financial literacy, consumer protection, and responsible financial practices among sugarcane farmers. This partnership is set to initiate a series of awareness programs, training sessions, and outreach initiatives designed to equip growers with a better understanding of financial management, lending processes, and their rights within the frameworks of consumer and financial laws.
Seema Shandil, CEO of the Consumer Council, remarked that this collaboration signifies a significant step towards empowering farmers to make informed financial choices. She articulated, “This partnership represents more than just a formal agreement — it is a commitment to empower our farmers as informed consumers. Through joint awareness initiatives, research collaborations, and training programs, we will work together to strengthen financial literacy and ensure growers have the confidence to make sound financial decisions.”
The MoU is designed to facilitate continuous dialogue, learning, and collaboration between the two organizations, emphasizing their dedication to fairness, transparency, and consumer protection within Fiji’s sugar industry. Raj Sharma, CEO of the Sugar Cane Growers Fund, also emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating that the formal agreement promotes responsible financial practices and aims to empower growers to make well-informed choices.
In addition, the partnership will contribute to national efforts aimed at bolstering financial literacy by conducting community awareness campaigns, joint outreach programs, and advocating for responsible lending and borrowing practices. The MoU is established for a period of five years and reflects both institutions’ commitment to fostering a financially secure and resilient sugarcane farming community.
This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts in the agriculture sector to enhance support for rural farmers, including previous initiatives such as increased funding for financial literacy and technological advancements within the industry. As the sugar cane industry faces various challenges, these collaborative efforts aim to strengthen the economic foundation of farming communities in Fiji, creating a hopeful outlook for future growth and stability in the sector.
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