Sugar Cane Farmers Unions in Fiji
Encyclopedia
There have been numerous sugar cane farmers' unions in Fiji
. Some have been regionally based, like the Labasa Kisan Sangh
, the Rewa Planters Union
and the Southern Division Kisan Sangh
. Other farmers unions were formed to provide leverage to sections of the community. In 1959, when the Federation of Cane Growers
was negotiating the new cane contract with the CSR
, three ethnic Fijian cane farmers unions were set up to provide three Fijian delegates in the Federation although Fijians made up less than 5% of the cane farmers. The Fijian cane growers unions were racially and provincially based as can be discerned by their names; Nadroga Fijian Cane Growers Association, the Ra Fijian Cane Growers Association and Ba Fijian Cane Growers Association. Others claimed to be open for everyone but their membership indicated sectional interest. For example, the Maha Sangh
had a predominantly South Indian
membership, the Vishal Sangh
had a predominantly Sikh
membership and the Kisan Sangh
had a predominantly North Indian membership.
Umbrella organisations were formed to present a united front in negotiating with the CSR and later the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC). In 1959, the Federation of Cane Growers was formed and in 1980 the Joint Committee of Cane Growers Associations was formed.
Farmers have not always needed unions to voice their concerns. The 1921 strike by sugar cane farmers was a spontaneous action led by Vashist Muni
.
Dates various sugar cane growers unions were established in Fiji:
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. Some have been regionally based, like the Labasa Kisan Sangh
Labasa Kisan Sangh
The Kisan Sangh had been active in the Western Division of Fiji since 1937 but had not seen the need to expand its activities to other sugar cane growing districts because of transportation problems and the fact that the other districts combined had far fewer cane farmers thatn the Western Division...
, the Rewa Planters Union
Rewa Planters Union
Rewa Planters Union was formed on 14 July 1943 at a meeting attended by 1500 cane farmers from Rewa Province, Fiji. The union was formed in reaction to the strike of cane farmers taking place in the Western Division. The Government had appointed a commission to inquire into the farmers' grievances...
and the Southern Division Kisan Sangh
Southern Division Kisan Sangh
The Southern Division Kisan Sangh was formed in 1946 by a former member of parliament, K.B. Singh, due to personal differences with the president of the Rewa Planters Union, Ram Krishna Chaudhary. There was widespread opposition to this until Vishnu Deo took over its leadership and worked together...
. Other farmers unions were formed to provide leverage to sections of the community. In 1959, when the Federation of Cane Growers
Federation of Cane Growers (Fiji)
The Federation of Cane Growers was formed as an umbrella organisation to negotiate the new cane contract due to take effect from 1960 with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company.- Negotiations for 1960 cane contract :...
was negotiating the new cane contract with the CSR
Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Fiji)
The Colonial Sugar Refining Company began operations in Fiji in 1880 and until it ceased operations in 1973, had a considerable influence on the political and economic life of Fiji. Prior to its expansion to Fiji, the CSR was operating Sugar Refineries in Melbourne and Auckland...
, three ethnic Fijian cane farmers unions were set up to provide three Fijian delegates in the Federation although Fijians made up less than 5% of the cane farmers. The Fijian cane growers unions were racially and provincially based as can be discerned by their names; Nadroga Fijian Cane Growers Association, the Ra Fijian Cane Growers Association and Ba Fijian Cane Growers Association. Others claimed to be open for everyone but their membership indicated sectional interest. For example, the Maha Sangh
Maha Sangh
Akhil Fiji Krishak Maha Sangh was a sugar cane farmers' union formed on 15 June 1941 in opposition to the existing union, the Kisan Sangh. Supporters of Kisan Sangh tried to stop the formation of the Maha Sangh but were unsuccessful. The people responsible for the formation of a second sugar cane...
had a predominantly South Indian
South Indians in Fiji
The South Indians in Fiji are mainly descendents of the 15,132 indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji between 1903 to 1916. This represents about 25% out of a total of 60,965 indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji between 1879 and 1916...
membership, the Vishal Sangh
Vishal Sangh
Vishal Sangh was a cane farmers union established in Fiji on 1 September 1946, by mainly Sikh farmers, who refused to re-join the Kisan Sangh after its reunification following the split of the Kisan Sangh into two factions in 1943...
had a predominantly Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
membership and the Kisan Sangh
Kisan Sangh
Kisan Sangh was the first farmers' union formed in Fiji on 27 November 1937. This was the result of one man's determination to improve the plight of Fiji's Indian cane farmers...
had a predominantly North Indian membership.
Umbrella organisations were formed to present a united front in negotiating with the CSR and later the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC). In 1959, the Federation of Cane Growers was formed and in 1980 the Joint Committee of Cane Growers Associations was formed.
Farmers have not always needed unions to voice their concerns. The 1921 strike by sugar cane farmers was a spontaneous action led by Vashist Muni
Vashist Muni
Sadhu Vashist Muni was a Hindu missionary from India, who came into prominence in Fiji when he assumed the leadership of the strike in the western districts of Fiji in 1921. Mystery surrounded him during his short stay in Fiji and tales of his miraculous deeds still circulate in Fiji...
.
Dates various sugar cane growers unions were established in Fiji:
- 1919 - Indian Cane Growers AssociationIndian Cane Growers Association (Fiji)The Indian Cane Growers Association was formed on 28 September 1919 and was based in Ba Province, one of the cane growing districts in the Western Division of Fiji. It was led by Theodore Riaz and included some well-to-do Indian cane farmers from Ba, like Ramgarib Singh and Randhir Singh...
- 1934 - Planters Association
- 1937 - Kisan SanghKisan SanghKisan Sangh was the first farmers' union formed in Fiji on 27 November 1937. This was the result of one man's determination to improve the plight of Fiji's Indian cane farmers...
- 1941 - Maha SanghMaha SanghAkhil Fiji Krishak Maha Sangh was a sugar cane farmers' union formed on 15 June 1941 in opposition to the existing union, the Kisan Sangh. Supporters of Kisan Sangh tried to stop the formation of the Maha Sangh but were unsuccessful. The people responsible for the formation of a second sugar cane...
- 1953 - Rewa Planters UnionRewa Planters UnionRewa Planters Union was formed on 14 July 1943 at a meeting attended by 1500 cane farmers from Rewa Province, Fiji. The union was formed in reaction to the strike of cane farmers taking place in the Western Division. The Government had appointed a commission to inquire into the farmers' grievances...
- 1946 - Vishal SanghVishal SanghVishal Sangh was a cane farmers union established in Fiji on 1 September 1946, by mainly Sikh farmers, who refused to re-join the Kisan Sangh after its reunification following the split of the Kisan Sangh into two factions in 1943...
- 1946 - Southern Division Kisan SanghSouthern Division Kisan SanghThe Southern Division Kisan Sangh was formed in 1946 by a former member of parliament, K.B. Singh, due to personal differences with the president of the Rewa Planters Union, Ram Krishna Chaudhary. There was widespread opposition to this until Vishnu Deo took over its leadership and worked together...
- 1950 - Labasa Kisan SanghLabasa Kisan SanghThe Kisan Sangh had been active in the Western Division of Fiji since 1937 but had not seen the need to expand its activities to other sugar cane growing districts because of transportation problems and the fact that the other districts combined had far fewer cane farmers thatn the Western Division...
- 1959 - Federation of Cane GrowersFederation of Cane Growers (Fiji)The Federation of Cane Growers was formed as an umbrella organisation to negotiate the new cane contract due to take effect from 1960 with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company.- Negotiations for 1960 cane contract :...
- 1959 - Nadroga Fijian Cane Growers Association
- 1959 - Ra Fijian Cane Growers Association
- 1959 - Ba Fijian Cane Growers Association
- 1979 - National Farmers UnionNational Farmers Union (Fiji)The National Farmers Union is one of Fiji's largest trade unions. It was launched in Labasa in July 1978 under the auspices of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, with Mahendra Chaudhry as its first General Secretary...
- 1980 - Joint Committee of Cane Growers Associations
- 1992 - Fiji Cane Growers AssociationFiji Cane Growers AssociationThe Fiji Cane Growers Association is a cane farmers' union established in 1992 by supporters of the National Federation Party .After the 1987 military coup in Fiji, most of the farmers' unions curtailed their activities, leaving the National Farmers Union as the only active farmers' union in the...