Sugar Industry Takes Flight with FSC’s Drone Initiative
The Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited (FSC) has successfully completed its first-ever Drone Pilot Training Programme for selected five FSC Field Officers, marking a significant milestone in the modernisation of Fiji’s sugar industry. The one-week programme, conducted in partnership with Drone Works Consultancy, Suva and supported by the Ministry of Sugar, represents an important step in introducing precision agriculture practices to cane cultivation.
The programme also marked a significant achievement in gender inclusivity, with the training of FSC’s first woman drone pilot. This milestone underscores the Corporation’s commitment to empowering women in agriculture and breaking traditional gender barriers within the industry.
The training combined classroom sessions with intensive hands-on field work, equipping officers with the skills required to fly drones, capture high-resolution images, and understand the legal framework governing drone use in Fiji. Field assessments formed a core component of the programme, ensuring participants gained practical knowledge and confidence in operating drones safely and effectively. At the conclusion of the training and passing of certification exams, all five participants obtained licensed pilot certificate and badge.
During the inauguration, the CEO emphasized that drones are no longer limited to recreational or photographic purposes but are fast becoming essential tools in modern farming. In sugarcane cultivation, drones will be used to spray nutrients, pesticides, and weedicides, as well as to monitor crop health, plan harvesting logistics, and assess field conditions with greater accuracy. Importantly, drones allow interventions even at advanced crop growth stages when manual access is restricted, thereby saving time, reducing labour, and increasing efficiency.
To accelerate this transition, The Ministry of Sugar will be procuring 12 drones from the Indian Government, while 3 drones are already approved under the capital programme for FSC to implement.
The benefits of this innovation are far-reaching. Precision spraying techniques are expected to reduce chemical usage, lower operational costs, and improve sustainability outcomes by minimising waste and environmental impact. By adopting this technology, FSC is positioning itself at the forefront of agricultural innovation in Fiji, ensuring resilience against climate challenges and strengthening the competitiveness of the sugar sector.
FSC extends its gratitude to Drone Works Consultancy for delivering the programme, the Ministry of Sugar for its support, and the participating officers for their dedication and commitment. This initiative is expected to be the first of many capacity-building efforts aimed at strengthening FSC’s ability to embrace new technologies and deliver long-term benefits for farmers, the industry, and Fiji’s economy. This program is designed to proactively train human capital ahead of the upcoming purchase of three drones, which will be used for the standardization of spray formulations by SRIF and for spraying applications by FSC, with support from the Ministry of Sugar through the capital grants program.