Over 200 farmers from 14 villages on Koro Island met with representatives from prominent agricultural processing, exporting and seed supplier companies in Nasau village this week (Tuesday 15 March), for the first agriculture buyer-supplier engagement event.

The pilot event aimed to strengthen direct networks between farmers and buyers as well as explore potential sourcing opportunities and logistic solutions for transporting agricultural products to market.

The direct engagement opportunity was organised by Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) and Fiji’s longest serving courier company, CDP Courier Services Limited, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of I- Taukei Affairs, the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) Fiji and Save the Children Fiji.”Koro Island earns $13m annually as gross value from agriculture activities, through production of Dalo, Cassava, and Kava etc.

Dalo is one of Fiji’s top agriculture exports raking in around $20m annually,” said Ministry of Agriculture Acting Chief Economist, Sera Bose, at the official opening of the one-day event.

As one of the main producers of quality dalo for exports, she commended farmers at Koro Island for this achievement, highlighting that they are not only contributing positively to enhancing their family income, but also to growing the economy.

“I understand this is the first, for this kind of event, where market is brought directly to doorsteps of suppliers or farmers. This opportunity allows farmers to engage directly with the market. Therefore, I urge you all, our farmers in Koro, to make use of this occasion to enhance your knowledge on available markets and how you can maximise its use to increase your income,” she said.

Encouraging market access for farmers will contribute to achieving commercialisation of Fiji’s Agriculture Sector and improving sustainable rural livelihood which are key highlights of the Ministry of Agriculture’s vision and mission.

Fiji’s agriculture sector supports over 70,000 farming households and contributes approximately 10 percent towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).However, supply chains linking farmers to buyers and agricultural logistics service providers remains an immense challenge, especially for those living in outer island communities like on Koro.

The Turaga Ni Koro of Mudu Village, Iliesa Butuivalu, said the event was very useful as it was the first time for many farmers on the island to meet directly with buyers.

“In the meeting, we heard about other things like bongo chilli and other markets. We’ve got plenty cassava here, and we have bongo chilli with no market. Food Processors Limited are buying these things, and we’ve talked to them. So, I can go back to my village and explain to them that there are these other items you can sell,” said Butuivalu.

One of the companies present at the event, Food Processors Limited exports agricultural value-added products to markets like the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

According to the company’s sales representative, Rohit Prasad, this was the first time they’ve travelled to Koro.