The export of fresh/chilled agriculture produce exceeded $100million in 2020 is an indication of the continuous growth of the agriculture sector.

This was shared by Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy during his 3-day tour of Taveuni Island earlier this week.

Minister Reddy met with farmers and community members of Somosomo District, Welagi Village, Qila settlement, Delaivuna settlement, and Wainikeli District to discuss and share with them the development plans in place at the Ministry of Agriculture.

“We’ve got a bright future in agriculture and we’re expanding our presence in the external market, last year our fresh and chilled exports increased by 14% in volume and 26% in value,” he said.

“For the first time ever last year, we surpassed the $100million mark, with respect to our exports and often they would compare and say that non-sugar agriculture exports were lower than sugar exports, we are now gradually surpassing sugar exports and I am pleased because you’ve all had a part in this,” he said.

“This year, during the first six months, we had already surpassed the $50million mark with respect to exports and we are looking at raising the exports of our agriculture produce further, there is enormous potential in the sector.

Minister Reddy said that the agriculture sector would continue to be the backbone of the Fijian economy and that the pandemic further solidified this fact because when entire industries shut down, our agriculture produce continued to be exported.

“Despite these challenges, we still managed to raise agricultural exports and generate much needed foreign exchange and it is because of this that we are working on continuously boosting the production of our agriculture produce,” he said.

“Following the pandemic over these past few months, we saw a movement with regards to back to rural areas and the pandemic has again revealed that we have a strategic advantage as the agriculture sector is one where we have total control of our destiny.

“There are various programmes being offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and we’re in the process of giving out these assistance programmes, but on the basis that they treat agriculture as a business, on the basis that we see sustainable agriculture practiced, that we see climate-smart agriculture being practiced, and on the basis that we see technology being introduced into agriculture. In this regard, we want to see surplus created by individual agricultural entrepreneurs, part of it being reinvested into the introduction of new technologies,” said Minister Reddy.

His 3-day tour of Taveuni concluded yesterday whereby he met with farmers, exporters and middlemen to also discuss and address issues faced by them.

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