Council Remember Descendants of the Sugar Industry
Sugar Cane Growers Council was established by the cane growers who were descendants of the Girmit System.
On 14th May 1879, the first group of indentured labourers arrived in Fiji from India to work in the sugar cane plantations.
This boosted Fiji’s earnings for a long time as the Sugar Industry became the backbone of Fiji.
At the end of the indenture system 25,000 Girmitiyas returned to India, however, the majority of the remaining 35,000 continued to work for the Sugar Industry in Fiji.
Today we have approximately 12,000 cane growers of which most are the descendants of the Girmitiyas.
Although cane farming is progressing towards mechanisation , the contributions of the Girmitiyas then is something that the whole sugar industry of today embraces.
The farming setup, teamwork, passion, commitment, sacrifices and the principles of cane farming remains intact.
Our Girmit forefathers came as indentured labourers but gave us a sense of freedom and dignity in pursuit to a strengthened and sustainable future.
They also strongly contributed in setting up schools and other community projects in the farming community.
The industry has experienced a series of challenges in the past affecting the livelihood of farmers, however, cane crop has proved to be resilient.
The Girmityas paid a heavy price for their long journey in search of a new life in a new world but they opened a world of opportunities for all of us.
Cane growers of today are well protected under the leadership of Sugar Cane Growers Council and the continuous support from the Industry stakeholders and the Government.