Fiji can potentially cut down its food import bill by $24.1 million, says Agriculture Minister Dr. Mahendra Reddy while speaking to farmers in Ovalau. In 2017, Fiji’s food import bill was estimated at $79.49 million.
He adds Fiji relies largely on imported produce to meet the demand of the tourism sector due to steady supply, high quality and prices that are sometimes lower than local produce. The Ministry under its “Our Community Agriculture” programme provided offer letters to Duavata Farmers Group from Vuma Village and Natokalau Vegetable Growers from Natokalau Village, Nasinu Ovalau.
The two clusters on the island of Ovalau will pioneer the programme under the Ministry of Agriculture’s development strategy to enhance linkages between the tourism sector and local farming communities.
Source: fbcnews.com.fj