Fiji exported its first pilot consignment of locally grown agricultural produce to the Republic of Nauru on Tuesday night, under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) and New Valley Processors (Fiji) Limited (NVPL) signed on July 23.
The shipment comprised 54 boxes of export-quality fruits, vegetables and root crops, including eggplants, long beans, telegraph cucumbers, English cabbage, cassava, watermelons, pineapples, tomatoes, taro leaves, taro, papayas, bananas, kumquats and lemons, all grown and harvested by farmers across Viti Levu. A Biosecurity Authority of Fiji official inspected the consignment before it was loaded onto a Nauru Airlines flight departing Nadi International Airport, which has since arrived in Nauru.
PIDF Secretary-General Arpana Pratap says the shipment points to broader commercial possibilities for Fijian growers. “The export of Fijian-grown agricultural produce to Pacific neighbours such as the Republic of Nauru demonstrates that Fiji’s agriculture sector has the potential to expand beyond the local market,” she says. Pratap adds that Fiji’s fertile land, favourable climate and farmers position the country to meet demand in Northern Pacific markets.
The export forms part of the Pacific Fresh AirLink initiative under PIDF’s Food and Nutrition Security Project, which aims to open regional markets for Fijian farmers and improve access to fresh produce in Pacific communities.
NVPL Chief Executive Navitalai Tuivuniwai says the consignment required extensive coordination with growers. “This first pilot consignment involved a lot of planning, discussions and meetings with farmers to ensure we were able to meet the flight deadline,” he says. Tuivuniwai says NVPL will continue working with PIDF to expand exports to Northern Pacific markets and improve farmers’ economic livelihoods.
