India has gifted 12 agricultural drones to Fiji to support more efficient and technology-enabled sugarcane production, strengthening cooperation between the two countries in agriculture and the sugar sector.
The drones were formally handed over in Lautoka by India’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Suneet Mehta, to Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry, Tomasi Tunabuna.
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The equipment has been provided by the Indian government to the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC). The handover fulfils a commitment announced during Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s visit to New Delhi in August 2025.
The initiative is aimed at helping Fiji adopt modern agricultural technology and improve the efficiency and sustainability of sugarcane cultivation. Agricultural drones can support activities such as crop monitoring and the application of agricultural inputs, potentially allowing farmers and authorities to manage plantations more efficiently.
The drone handover is part of a wider pattern of Indian support for Fiji’s agricultural sector. India has previously assisted the Pacific island nation through the supply of seeds, mobile soil-testing laboratories and specialised training for sugarcane farmers.
Fijian sugarcane farmers have also received training at the National Sugar Institute in Kanpur under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. Such initiatives have focused on strengthening technical capabilities and supporting the development of Fiji’s sugar industry.
The latest assistance is expected to contribute to agricultural innovation, productivity and resilience in Fiji. The use of drone technology could also help expand the adoption of precision-based farming practices in the country’s sugarcane sector.
The initiative comes as India and Fiji continue discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation across several sectors.
On September 8, Mehta met Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica. Their discussions covered agriculture, health, trade, business and economic cooperation, along with other areas of mutual interest.
Mehta also met Fiji’s Minister of Land and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo, last month. The discussions focused on cooperation in the mineral sector, capacity building and ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.
The agricultural drone initiative adds another technology-focused element to the relationship between India and Fiji. For Fiji, where sugarcane remains an important agricultural activity, the equipment is intended to support more modern methods of cultivation and improve access to technology.
India has said it remains committed to working with Fiji to strengthen bilateral ties while supporting farmers and communities.
The 12-drone handover therefore represents both a practical agricultural intervention and part of the broader cooperation between the two countries. With technology increasingly being used to monitor crops and improve farm management, the initiative could provide Fiji’s sugar industry with additional tools to improve efficiency and resilience.
