Executives to Drive Sugar Forward
Looks like there is a lot of strategic reshuffle and movement going on at the helm of top sugar organisations.
These are some of the executives that will contribute to the growth and ensuring that the sugar industry stakeholders work as a team for the continuous improvement of the sugar industry.
The sugar industry is transforming from an agriculture.
These are executives that will ensure that farmers adopt new technologies of sugar cane farming to increase yield and maximise profits.
Bhan Pratap Singh
Take for example the newly appointed Fiji
Sugar Corporation (FSC) chief executive officer
(CEO) Bhan Pratap Singh who is now a newly appointed board director of the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji.
Mr Singh is no stranger to the sugar industry having previously spent 18 years at
FSC as General Manager, Operations/ Deputy CEO.
He will be working closely with Sugar Research institute of Fiji to improve on cane yield and improve in sugar quality.
One of the main objectives of Sugar Research institute of Fiji is to advance the industry by excellence in technology transfer emanating from research results through science that supports innovative activities in sugar related industries and to make the Fiji Sugar Industry productive and sustainable.
Vimal Dutt
Vimal Dutt, the Sugar
Cane Growers Council,
CEO, was also appointed as the new board member for the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji.
Appointed as the Council’s CEO in mid November 2020, he has been part of the sugar industry for
17 years’ and he has experience and expertise to work closely with Sugar Research Institute of Fiji to execute its role of research and development of the industry and of the interests of cane Farmers.
Reshmi Kumari
Also adding value to the sugar industry is Reshmi
Kumari, who was appointed as the chairperson of the Sugar Cane Growers
Council in January.
Her appointment was made by the Prime Minister and Minister of the
Sugar Industry, Voreqe
Bainimarama, pursuant to the Sugar Industry Act 1984.
She is the first female amongst the five industry institutions to take up the chairperson role.
The board said Ms Kumari brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to her role of leadership to oversee the planning, designing and implementation of plans and strategic actions to benefit cane growers in Fiji.
She hails from cane farming family in Tavua.
Ms Kumari will work work closely with Mr Dutt, and was well placed to work closely with Fiji Sugar Corporation Ltd, South Pacific Fertilisers Ltd, Sugar Cane Growers Fund, Sugar Industry Tribunal, and Sugar Research Institute of Fiji to execute council’s role of protection and development of the industry and of the interests of cane growers.
She will continue to provide strategic advice to the council as director operations for Ministry of Sugar Industry.
Santiago Mahimairaja
Early March the newly appointed CEO of Sugar Research Institute of Fiji, Santiago Mahimairaja took up office . He succeed Prem Naidu who was the acting CEO. Mr Mahimairaja has been tasked to lead an enthusiastic and vibrant team of staff at the Institute.
The Institute was established in 2006 as the premier provider of research, development and extension services in the sugar industry. Sugar Research Institute of Fiji has the national mandate for the development and dissemination of technology and information needed for increased productivity, profitability and sustainability of the Sugar Industry in Fiji. Mr Mahimairaja hails from Tamil Nadu State in South India is no stranger to agriculture.
He is a well-known Soil and Environmental Scientist with 34 years of experience in agricultural research and education.
According to the Institute, his expertise and experience in soil health will certainly help to address soil health issues as soil health plays a major role in affecting the sugar cane production.
“Besides the impact of climate change the decline in nutrients and organic matter status of soil could be attributed towards reduction in sugarcane yield in Fiji.
“Therefore, a lot of research is needed to address this important issue which may help to develop strategies for enhancing cane yield. Over a period of more than 30 years Prof Mahimairaja’s research focused on soil health, remediation of polluted soil and water, biological waste management, and recycling of industrial wastewater in agriculture etc.,” the Institute said in a statement.
Raj Sharma
Raj Sharma, Sugar Cane
Growers Fund CEO, will also work closely with these stakeholders.
Mr Sharma has over 32 years of experience in banking, project and risk management, governance, agricultural and maritime roles.
For all these executives there will be a lot more emphasis will be placed on transferring new technologies to the sugarcane farmers through the Agricultural Advisory Services.
So for those who know these professional executives well, our sugar industry is in good hands.