A $30,000 greenhouse nursery was opened through a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways and British American Tobacco (BAT) Fiji at the Navai Agriculture Station in Nadarivatu last week.

This is the first greenhouse project under BAT Fiji’s Grow+ programme, which aims to assist the Ministry in reaching remote farmers.

While speaking at the event, the Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Hon. Vatimi Rayalu said the Greenhouse Nursery will supply seedlings to nearly 700 farmers in the highlands.

He said the Nadarivatu farming community will be proud to have such a remarkable greenhouse facility fitted with modern equipment, ensuring that the farmers in this region receive some of the best vegetable seedlings for their farm.

“This nursery has a water tank, pressure pump, and automated irrigation system that can grow 5,000 vegetable seedlings per month, totalling 50,000 seedlings annually,” he explained.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways is confident that the construction of this greenhouse in Nadarivatu marks the beginning of new opportunities for our remote farmers.

“The seedlings from this greenhouse will enhance crop yields for farmers. In addition, BAT Fiji has been training farmers on germinating seeds and taking proper care of seedlings which will greatly assist our farmers,” said Hon. Rayalu.

Hon. Rayalu said BAT Fiji has a long and proud history of supporting farmers through their agricultural operations and for over 68 years has operated as a model agriculture business in Fiji showing the immense potential of the Agriculture Industry.

“BAT Fiji has become an integral partner of the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, actively assisting our farmers. The flagship social project Grow+ launched last year, is making a significant impact on this vital sector,” said Hon. Rayalu. 

He said this project is an amazing aspiration from BAT Fiji to assist us in reaching out to more farmers for food and income security.

“This will help the farmers improve their livelihoods and tap into potential export opportunities and import substitution, which also supports the Government’s development plans and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

He said this is a significant level of investment from BAT Fiji as our private sector partner to grow our agriculture sector and encouraged farmers in Nadarivatu to take advantage of the opportunity and utilise the greenhouse nursery.

“With greater access to vegetable seedlings, we expect there will be an increase in farming productivity for the region,” said Hon. Rayalu.

Hon. Rayalu announced that two more greenhouse nurseries will be built in Tutu in Taveuni and Moala in Lau in the coming months.

Meanwhile, BAT Fiji General Manager Sam Dormor said that through the Grow+ project, BAT Fiji will make a positive social impact on over 27,000 Fijians annually.

“In 2022, BAT Fiji distributed 150,000 vegetable seedlings to farmers. However, the Grow+ project has expanded this to 500,000 seedlings in 2023, with a goal of reaching 1 million by 2024.”

Mr Dormor said the 500,000 vegetable seedlings were distributed to over 1,800 farmers along the coastal side of Viti Levu from Nadroga to Rakiraki, as per the Ministry’s records.

“This has helped farmers to better sustain their livelihoods through subsistence farming or selling produce in the local municipal markets,” he added.

“The Grow+ project aims to improve the livelihoods of farmers through helping with food security, providing an additional source of income, and a pathway for farmers to gain access to more markets, for example, hotels and export markets,” said Mr Dormor.

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