Koko Siga (Fiji) Limited project manager Livai Tora explains while Tomasi Draunimasi looks on at Legalega in Nadi yesterday. Photo: WAISEA NASOKIA
By WAISEA NASOKIA
Farmers in Nadi are now exploring a new prospect in the agriculture industry growing breadfruit.
This has resulted from the Pacific Breadfruit Project sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
It is being managed by Nature’s Way Co-operative and the Koko Siga (Fiji) Limited.
The first real fruits of the Pacific Breadfruit Project are not due yet but the demand is there from the Polynesian community in New Zealand.
Koko Siga project manager Livai Tora confirmed ten farmers are working on their respective properties on this project mainly in the Western Division but also as far as Navua.
“As of this month, there are properties in Legalega and Sabeto including eight other farms who have been strategically prompted with the experiment to meet the demand,” he said.
“Farmers will be earning a decent amount and at the same time learning new skills.
“This is part of the observation stage where the varieties are being closely observed as well.”
Mr Tora said they will have to choose between hardy trees that take five years to fruit, and faster-fruiting varieties including those that might not stand up to cyclones and flooding.
Search for more farmers
He indicated they are also looking for more farmers for this project.
“If we can have a good number of farmers with at least one or two acres of land each which can have hundred trees each, we can make an impact,” he said.
He said a lot of methods will be introduced with best agronomic practices for commercial orchards.
“At Legalega, there is a 14-acre farm as we have implemented intercropping of other cash crops such as pineapples, egg plants, cassava, citrus and papaya while bread fruit is the long term,” Mr Tora said.
“At the same time when other produce is harvested, it will be sufficient enough to sustain the farmers financially.”