Farmers in the Western division have been urged to plant cassava for commercial purposes given the potential for an increase in cassava exports.
Agriculture Marketing Authority sales and marketing manager, Alifereti Yaya, said farmers in the Western Division are not taking advantage of the establishment of two processing plants in the division.
“Right now there is a shortage of cassava that is currently required by the two factories because there are no cassava plantations in the Western Division,” he said.
“I would like to urge farmers because they have all the land in the world which is lying idle but they just need to plant a few sticks and harvest after a few months.”
The authority says the growth in demand has forced the authority to source more cassava for export from Savusavu and Taveuni.
New markets
Other incentives highlighted by the authority includes taking on board freight costs to mitigate other costs involved for export to overseas markets mainly in Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.
“We are looking at other new markets however with the lack in supply all of Government’s plans and investments are stalled,” Mr Yaya said.
Fiji needs to meet the demand of 60 tonnes of cassava per month to be able to export it overseas.
In 2012, Fiji earned more than $1.2 million from 800 tonnes of cassava.
— MINFO