A family-owned agribusiness in Savusavu has turned generations of experience in the copra industry, into a successful natural skincare business using traditional Fijian knowledge and locally sourced ingredients.
Kula Palms Fiji Managing Director Samanunu Simpson says, the business was established after her family recognised that relying solely on copra production was no longer financially sustainable.
Simpson says they began producing natural skincare products using coconut oil and traditional medicinal plants such as noni, moringa, lemongrass, basil and turmeric sourced from their family estate and nearby communities along the Hibiscus Highway in Savusavu.
She says one of their first products was Rewa Herbal Oil, a traditional remedy used by previous generations to treat skin conditions, which she says they were the first to commercialise.
Simpson says Kula Palms Fiji also became one of the first producers of charcoal soap in Fiji and has been operating for the past 10 years.
Despite challenges including COVID-19, rising economic pressures and difficulties attracting and retaining workers in rural areas, she says the business has continued to grow by focusing on authentic products made from locally sourced agricultural resources.
Meanwhile, Simpson says supporting agribusinesses means supporting rural families, as many small businesses rely on local farmers and producers for their raw materials.
Insert:Simpson on private sectors
She says more investment is needed to revive and strengthen the coconut industry, which would help businesses expand production, create jobs and contribute more to Fiji's economy.
