In closing the National Coconut Day celebrations at the National Gymnasium this afternoon, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Dr. Andrew Tukana said that the coconut sector and industry has a huge potential to meet the demand in our domestic markets as well as earn foreign exchange from exports.

“However there are important challenges that the sector face, some of them within our control and some beyond our control. The other major challenge that needs to be addressed at the moment with the coconut sector is the large number of senile trees with low productivity in coconut growing areas,” said Dr. Tukana.

“The establishment of coconut nurseries on site and capacity building with farmers and communities can respond to this shortage effectively. Other important challenges, such as the price of copra compared to other products from coconuts that have been value added is an area that needs more thought, planning and research to fine tune those processes for further product development from coconuts and to develop pathways for markets for them.”

Dr. Tukana added that Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, has a Coconut Farming Capital budget allocation of $200,000.00 for this financial year.

“The budget activities include the purchasing of seed nuts, establishment of nurseries, coconut infrastructure development, Virgin Coconut Oil support, and the monitoring of the Coconut development program.”

Dr. Tukana further added that the objective of the Coconut Development Program is to revitalize the coconut industry through planting and replanting coconut seeds, improvement of existing value-adding processes, and encouraging mixed farming systems.

Most importantly, the focus is to improve the lives of the 120,000 farmers who depend on the coconut industry as their main source of livelihood.

“The Coconut Taskforce forum will take into account priority areas that have been agreed on from today’s discussions to guide the Ministry on further areas for the provision of technical guidance and expertise as well as on the level for financial investment that will be needed.”

The Ministry will further conduct a coconut survey exercise to quantify the existing coconut tree numbers and plantations in Fiji, the proportion of senile trees, and the socio-economic data of the households that consume and invest in coconuts.

Dr. Tukana added that this exercise will be piloted in the Cakaudrove Province in the next financial year.

He thanked students, stakeholders, line ministries and farmers for their support in executing a successful National Coconut Day celebration.

-ENDS-

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