A young family in Bilalevu, Sigatoka, is building an agricultural export business that is connecting local farmers with international markets.

At 31, Vinesh Varun Sharma, director of Vinesh Export, has grown the company into an exporter supplying buyers in New Zealand and Japan.

Vinesh Export was established in 2023, starting with two acres of freehold flatland in Bilalevu. The business has since expanded its network by sourcing produce from farmers across Sigatoka, the western corridor and central Viti Levu.

Working alongside his wife, Vandhana, Vinesh exports a wide range of agricultural products, including eggplant, pawpaw, okra, curry leaves, long beans, cowpea, drumstick, cluster beans, red fire chillies, amaranthus, turmeric, ginger, cassava, mango stick, dry coconuts, mango and dalo to New Zealand.

Pearl guava is exported to Japan.

The company recorded significant growth between 2024 and 2025. In 2024, it exported 43,560 kilograms of produce and earned $348,480. The following year, export volumes increased to 81,100 kilograms, generating $648,800 in income.

Vinesh says careful record-keeping and reinvesting earnings back into the business have helped support its continued expansion.

The company has also received assistance through the Ministry of Agriculture’s Commercial Agriculture Development Program.

A packhouse and cooler valued at $87,398 were provided under the program, allowing the business to manage larger quantities of produce while maintaining quality.

Before receiving the facility, Vinesh and Vandhana used their garage as a makeshift packhouse as they worked to establish the business.

The company now employs five full-time workers and 10 casual workers, providing employment opportunities in Bilalevu, Waicoba and surrounding areas.

It also collects produce from farmers every Thursday and Saturday, purchasing their crops and providing them with access to overseas markets.

Principal Agriculture Officer (West), Solomoni Naisau, has acknowledged the company’s contribution to local farmers and the wider economy.

Despite its growth, Vinesh Export continues to face logistical challenges, including relying on one three-tonne truck to transport produce to the airport.

During periods of high demand, the truck may need to make two trips, requiring careful planning to avoid delays.

Maintaining quality is another important part of the operation. Farmers are sometimes faced with difficult decisions when produce does not meet export standards, but Vinesh and Vandhana say maintaining those standards is essential to retaining the confidence of international buyers.

The family has also invested in a $100,000 home, trucks, crates and other facilities as they continue to expand the business.

What began with two acres and a garage being used as a packhouse has developed into an export operation serving markets in New Zealand and Japan.

For Vinesh and Vandhana, the business is also about creating opportunities for farmers, providing employment and demonstrating the potential of Fiji’s agriculture sector in international markets.