Farmers in Sabeto Valley in Sigatoka and surrounding areas will no longer have to sell their produce at lower prices out of fear of spoilage, as Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has officiated the groundbreaking of the new Processing and Cold Chain Facility by New Valley Processors PTE Limited.
He says New Valley is more than just bringing markets closer; it is bringing hope, empowerment and a pathway to better livelihoods for farmers.
Rabuka says many of these farmers are surviving on subsistence livelihoods with almost no opportunity to engage in commercial or even semi-commercial farming, so the New Valley model presents a unique and innovative concept for rural Fijian farmers.
He says he is told that the company is ready to provide support at every step - from land preparation to agro input and seedling support and ultimately the procurement of produce at premium farm gate pricing.
The Prime Minister says this is indeed a unique proposition and he is sure it will make life easier and more profitable for these farmers and certainly one that the Fijian government is excited to support.
He further says this project exemplifies the government's vision to strengthen the agriculture sector as a key pillar of economic growth.
The Prime Minister says the government is also investing in the next generation of farmers by expanding training facilities and programs to equip young people with modern agricultural skills, such as initiatives at the Navuso Agriculture Technical Institute and the Tutu Training Centre.
Rabuka also confirmed Indonesia will be giving Fiji a $12 million grant to restart the centre in Ra and the Indonesian President is looking forward to coming to visit and hopes he will be invited.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that multinational companies like Fiji Water and Aitken Spence from Sri Lanka have expressed interest in commercial agriculture in Fiji while another investor from Papua New Guinea is now in talks with FNPF and BSP.
Rabuka says these are the beginnings of a new era of investor confidence in the agriculture sector and with right partnerships, they believe Fiji can feed the region and beyond.
He further says now that we have tariff barriers in America, we have to look for new destinations for our market and if we make them better, we will have more destinations.
The Prime Minister says they want to build on this momentum and do even more in the coming months - working hand-in-hand with rural communities, partners and the private sector to unlock the full potential of Fiji's agriculture and connecting these to external markets.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
