Cocoa Industry Sees Growth Post Pandemic: Cacao Founder Arif Khan

Cacao Fiji founder Arif Khan believes there is an increase in cocoa farmer interest and buying locally.

Last month, the Cacao Fiji Outreach was busy responding to new cocoa farmers turning to cocoa farming as a source of income.

Coincidently, a major harvesting time, the cocoa farmers are realising that the cocoa pods represent a valuable source of income.

“We have encountered several new farmers who have inherited cocoa farms,” Mr Khan said.

“Post COVID-19 and economic challenges, cocoa farming represents a sustainable source of income.”

The Cacao Fiji crew in Vanua Levu and Viti Levu led a major buying of wet cocoa beans from October, ensuring that the farmers had guaranteed market access.

“Employment and poverty in these rural areas is scarce and cocoa farming is a viable option to impact farmer livelihoods,” said Mr Khan.

“We have been working on educating the farmers of market access available on the two major islands, whereby we have invested in operation centers in Dreketi, Macuata and Nasirealagi, Rakiraki.

“The market access is close to their communities so the farmers are reassured and pursue cocoa farming with great optimism.

“We are calling out to all stakeholders to come out and join forces to revive the Fijian Cocoa industry.

“This is a demand driven revival and the height of the market, Fiji exported approximately 450 MT (metric tonne) and today that would translate to over a million dollars in farmer income.”

Fiji’s immediate export demand for cocoa beans currently stands at 50 metric tonnes, he said.

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