About 500 villagers of Lutu, Naitasiri will benefit from the newly-opened Wainaka Cocoa Growers Association cocoa processing unit.

The processing unit was opened by the European Union Ambassador to Fiji and the Pacific Andrew Jacobs at the village on Thursday.

Lutu Village headman Tevita Raisuqe said the initiative would provide financial support for the 20 mataqali that make up the village.

“This is a very happy moment for the villagers of Lutu,” Mr Raisuqe said.

Association manager Sailasa Buabuaivalu said they were able to rip the fruit of their labour for a couple of times.

“We have sold cocoa to Adi Chocolate. In 2008 we were selling cocoa for $3.50 kg and now it is $6.50 a kg.

“We had suspended the operation from 2014 to early 2016 but now we have tried to rehabilitate the plantation.

“We would like to thank the European Union, Pacific Community, Ministry of Agriculture and Adi Chocolate for the support in making our dream a reality.”

Cocoa planting is carried out on a 38-acre site owned by the mataqali Nakorovou of Lutu Village.

The initiative was funded by the European Union and implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.

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