Navosa Organic Ginger Farmers Seeking Govt Help to Find Buyers for Crops
Mr Lewamosa told Mr Reddy that since 2017, there has been no market for the farmers to sell their produce.
Monday 11 March 2019 | 13:40
Autiko Navuda (front) with his friends of Nakoro Village, Navosa at their organic ginger farm. Photo: Nicolette Chambers
Villagers of Nakoro in the interior of the Navosa have planted and harvested organic ginger but there are no buyers.
This issue was raised by Nakoro villager, Jovili Lewamosa past Friday when the Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment Mahendra Reddy visited farmers in the Western Division on March 8.
Mr Lewamosa told Mr Reddy that since 2017, there has been no market for the farmers to sell their produce.
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“We started to do organic ginger about three years ago.
“In 2016, we borrowed $2000 from the Agriculture Ministry to provide us with the ginger plants, so they gave us two to three tonnes to start our ginger programme.”
He said in 2018, Tappoo Group of Companies supplied the village with about six to five tonnes of ginger to plant.
“We don’t have an even land to plant the ginger so we have scattered our planting to different areas where we are farming. From now we are waiting for some companies to buy our ginger.”
Nakoro villager, Jovili Lewamosa (middle) during discussions with the Minister for Agriculture Mahendra Reddy. Photo: Nicolette Chambers
Mr Lewamosa said this week the villagers would be supplying five tonnes of organic ginger to Frespac Ginger (Fiji) Limited.
Mr Reddy said he discuss this issue with the ministry officials and will get back to them on the actions they will take to support the farmers.
He also advised the villagers that when they plant and sell ginger to companies they need to be sure to keep aside part of it to continue the business.
Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj
