India gifts 12 agricultural drones to Fiji for sugarcane production
Synopsis
India has delivered 12 precision agriculture drones to Fiji's Sugar Corporation — a quiet but telling moment in drone diplomacy. The handover fulfils a promise made during PM Rabuka's New Delhi visit in August 2025, and sits within a wider Indian push to deepen tech-enabled ties across the Pacific through ITEC training, soil-testing labs, and now aerial hardware.
Key Takeaways
India's High Commissioner Suneet Mehta handed over 12 agricultural drones to Fiji's Fiji Sugar Corporation in Lautoka on 25 September 2026 .
The gift fulfils a commitment made during Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka 's visit to New Delhi in August 2025 .
The drones are designed to support precision, technology-enabled sugarcane production in Fiji.
India's broader agricultural support includes seeds, mobile soil-testing labs, and ITEC-funded training at the National Sugar Institute, Kanpur .
High Commissioner Mehta has also held recent bilateral meetings with Fiji's Deputy PM and Minister for Land and Mineral Resources, signalling active engagement across sectors.
India's High Commissioner to Fiji, Suneet Mehta, formally handed over 12 agricultural drones to Fiji's Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry, Tomasi Tunabuna, in Lautoka on 25 September 2026, marking the fulfilment of a bilateral commitment made over a year ago. The drones, gifted by the Government of India to the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC), are aimed at enabling more efficient, technology-driven and sustainable sugarcane production across Fiji.
The Commitment Behind the Gift
The handover delivers on a pledge made during Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's state visit to New Delhi in August 2025. The Indian High Commission confirmed that the drone transfer is part of a broader, multi-pronged agricultural partnership that spans seeds, mobile soil-testing laboratories, and specialist training for Fijian sugarcane farmers at the National Sugar Institute in Kanpur under India's ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) programme.
What the Drones Will Do
The 12 drones are intended to modernise Fiji's sugarcane cultivation by supporting precision agriculture — covering tasks such as crop monitoring, aerial spraying, and field mapping. According to the Indian High Commission, India remains committed to advancing agricultural innovation, productivity and resilience in Fiji, with the ultimate aim of benefiting Fijian farmers and rural communities dependent on the sugar sector.
Broader Bilateral Engagement
The drone handover is the latest in a series of high-level engagements between the two nations in recent weeks. On 8 September, High Commissioner Mehta met Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, with discussions covering agriculture, health, trade, and economic cooperation. Last month, Mehta also met Fiji's Minister of Land and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo, with talks focused on cooperation in the mineral sector and capacity building.
India-Fiji Partnership in Context
India and Fiji share deep historical and cultural ties, with a significant Indo-Fijian diaspora forming a longstanding bridge between the two countries. The sugar industry is a cornerstone of Fiji's economy, and India's multi-year agricultural support — combining technology transfers, institutional training, and now precision-agriculture hardware — reflects a strategic deepening of this relationship. Notably, this handover is one of several drone diplomacy initiatives India has pursued across the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions as part of its broader 'neighbourhood-plus' outreach.
Point of View
Institutional training under ITEC, and on-ground capacity building into a coherent package. For Fiji, whose sugar sector remains economically vital but technologically behind, this is meaningful. For India, the Pacific is an arena where China has been aggressively expanding influence, and every drone handed to an FSC official is also a data point in a larger geopolitical ledger. The question is whether India sustains the follow-through — technology transfers only create lasting goodwill when accompanied by maintenance support, spares supply chains, and long-term training pipelines.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did India gift 12 agricultural drones to Fiji?
India gifted 12 agricultural drones to the Fiji Sugar Corporation to support more efficient and sustainable sugarcane production, fulfilling a commitment made during Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka's visit to New Delhi in August 2025. The transfer is part of a wider India-Fiji agricultural partnership that includes seeds, mobile soil-testing labs, and specialist farmer training.
Where was the drone handover ceremony held?
The handover took place in Lautoka, Fiji, where High Commissioner Suneet Mehta formally presented the drones to Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna on 25 September 2026.
What is the ITEC programme mentioned in the India-Fiji partnership?
ITEC stands for Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation, a Government of India initiative that funds training and capacity-building for partner nations. Under ITEC, Fijian sugarcane farmers receive specialised training at the National Sugar Institute in Kanpur, India.
How does this fit into the broader India-Fiji relationship?
India and Fiji share strong historical and cultural ties, underpinned by a large Indo-Fijian diaspora. Beyond agriculture, recent high-level meetings have covered health, trade, economic cooperation, and mineral sector collaboration, reflecting a multi-sectoral deepening of bilateral ties.
What impact will the drones have on Fiji's sugar industry?
The 12 drones are expected to enable precision agriculture in Fiji's sugarcane fields — supporting crop monitoring, aerial application, and field mapping. According to the Indian High Commission, the aim is to boost agricultural productivity, innovation, and resilience for Fijian farmers and communities dependent on the sugar sector.
