MARAIA VULA
suva,
A group of 25 farmers in Nadarivatu has been selected to be part of a High Value Agricultural project being undertaken by Bank South Pacific and Partners in Community Development Fiji.
The project means these farmers will specialise in high value cash crops such as tomato, capsicum, English cabbage, celery, broccoli and zucchini.
The project will roll out next month and if successful, it could extend to a broader group of 200 farmers to participate and also move to other areas of Fiji.
BSP country manager, Kevin McCarthy, said: “The project will eventually be deployed to three districts across three provinces in Savatu in Ba, Nadrau in Navosa and Naboubuco in Naitasiri.”
These farmers will now have access to BSP’s loan facility.
Mr McCarthy noted the criteria to this facility requires farmers to provide 25 per cent equity, Partners in Community Development Fiji funds 25 per cent and BSP provides the remaining 50 per cent as a loan.
PCDF executive director Tevita Ravuidama said they have already spoken to some possible markets like NewWorld Supermarket and some middlemen.
But, he said they are still open for others.
“Our target is for famers to spend more time on the farm rather than leaving their communities to sell their produce,” he said.
“We are thankful to BSP for this agreement because we will be able to find out the challenges, our strengths and weaknesses and learn from it.”
Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj