Fiji : Rice farmers’ big opportunity
Fiji’s $80 million annual rice import bill presents significant opportunities for local farmers and the domestic rice industry. With mechanisation and expanded milling capacity, national production has reached about 10,000 tonnes, supporting 800 farmers and helping reduce import dependence.
Fiji’s close to $80 million annual rice import bill represents a massive, untapped market for local farmers to capture and keep millions of dollars circulating within the domestic economy.
Outgoing Fiji Rice chairman Raj Sharma highlighted this immense potential, noting that roughly $65m of that import bill is strictly for local consumption.
While Fiji historically imported about 80 per cent of its rice because of severe production challenges, a modernising structural shift has already proven what is possible.
“When I became chairman, Fiji Rice was only operating three days a week, with production around 400 tonnes,” Mr Sharma said.
To overcome this, he said Fiji Rice expanded its operations, introduced mechanical harvesters, provided portable mills, and launched dedicated harvesting services.
He said those advancements drastically reduced the physical burden on farmers and maximised operational efficiency.
The strategic intervention has already triggered a major turnaround with the company now supporting around 800 active farmers; national production surging to about 10,000 tonnes; and milling capacity having expanded significantly.
“The company now has about 800 farmers, while national production has increased to about 10,000 tonnes.
“Its milling infrastructure has also expanded, with the Dreketi mill extended and a new mill established in Ba.
“The company’s highest mill production has reached 1685 tonnes.”
Mr Sharma said the increase in domestic production could help reduce Fiji’s reliance on imported rice while creating a larger market for local farmers.
With about $65m of imported rice being consumed locally, he said strengthening domestic production and processing could allow more of that expenditure to circulate within Fiji.
The development of the rice industry, he said, would depend on continued investment in farmers, machinery, and processing infrastructure.
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Source : The Fiji Times
