Why do the sugar-producing regions of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu have large populations of Indian descent?

The large population of Indian descent in the sugar-producing regions of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu is a direct result of British colonial policy. Following the establishment of Fiji as a British crown colony in 1874, the first governor, Arthur Gordon, sought to protect indigenous Fijians by limiting their involvement in commercial development and governing them through a system of indirect rule.1

To foster economic growth, Gordon promoted the introduction of indentured laborers from India to work on sugar plantations established by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. Although these laborers were initially brought under contract, they were encouraged to remain as permanent settlers once their terms ended. Today, the descendants of these laborers continue to dominate the sugar industry as independent farmers, which explains their high concentration in the primary sugar-producing areas of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.1234