The Sugar Cane Growers Council [SCGC] says it paid out $586,000 in claims from its micro bundled insurance scheme to 251 farmers families in 2023.

Chief Executive Officer Vimal Dutt said 10,563 growers harvested cane in the 2023 season and were covered under the scheme under a $60 per annum premium.
He said premiums were sourced from the grower’s share of proceeds annually, as certified by the Sugar Industry Tribunal [SIT].
The SCGC provides administrative support for approvals with Fiji Care Insurance and payouts for farmers.

Mr Dutt said term life and funeral recorded the highest claim, where 241 growers passed away with the youngest being 41 and the oldest, 95 years old.

He said the scheme was in its 8th year of facilitating insurance provided by Fiji Care Insurance Limited.
Mr Dutt said the objective of the scheme was to provide a safety net for growers post adverse circumstances.
He said since the inception of the scheme in 2016, the annual premium remained $52 until it was increased by $8 to $60 from 2024 with the ncrease in premium attributed to claim rate and no age limit.
Mr Dutt said the possibility of introducing crop insurance for growers as additional security and compensation during natural calamities was being explored by the SCGC.