Fiji's agriculture sector is considering bananas as a potential export commodity amidst challenges in the sugar industry. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka addressed inquiries in the 'Your Voice, Your Fiji' column, recognizing the hurdles faced by sugarcane farmers and highlighting the need for alternative agricultural exports.
Bananas, along with yams and pineapples, were identified as viable options. "Before Fiji focused on exporting sugar, there used to be a variety of other crops processed for export," said Mr. Rabuka. He noted that smaller native yam varieties, such as taniela leka, vurai, and niu madu, could serve as alternatives to sugarcane farming, citing their ease of growth in machine-prepared fields and potential for higher yields and income.
Mr. Rabuka emphasized transitioning to organic certification to enhance Fiji's competitiveness in global markets. "It would be more attractive to prepare fields for a few years to remove traces of fertilizers and pesticides to get organic certification for the world market." He also pointed to Fiji's naturally favorable conditions for banana cultivation.
Beyond bananas and yams, Mr. Rabuka mentioned opportunities in beef and pineapple production. He referenced the historical Tova Beef canning factory in Tailevu North and a pineapple canning facility in Lautoka, suggesting their potential revival. "We can develop our beef cattle ranches for export and process it for canneries, while also looking at pineapple exports."
Mr. Rabuka stressed the importance of biosecurity to protect crops from invasive species, proposing the Pacific Islands Forum countries as initial export destinations and advocating for enhanced biosecurity measures at seaports and airports.
Source: The Fiji Times