Ginger exports grow as farmers urged to diversify

Fiji's green and mature ginger exports are performing strongly this year, prompting the Government to encourage more farmers to take advantage of growing export demand.

Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Tomasi Tunabuna said both green and mature ginger had performed well in export markets, contributing to Fiji's export earnings.

Mr Tunabuna said the strong performance reflected growing demand and presented an opportunity for more farmers to enter ginger production.

He encouraged farmers to diversify into high-demand crops rather than relying on a single commodity.

Mr Tunabuna said agricultural commodities continued to perform well and believed intercropping offered farmers greater income opportunities.

He said monocropping was not financially sustainable and that diversifying into high-demand crops and vegetables could improve farm incomes.

"We encourage farmers to diversify into crops and vegetables that have a strong market for sale and marketing," he said.

Kava exports continue to grow

Mr Tunabuna said kava exports also continued to perform strongly, remaining one of Fiji's highest-earning agricultural commodities.

He said increasing international demand had enabled exporters to maintain strong export earnings.

New Zealand, Australia and the United States remain Fiji's key export markets for kava.

However, Mr Tunabuna said green yaqona plant theft continued to affect farmers supplying exporters, with years of hard work often lost in a single night.

He noted that Taveuni had been particularly affected by yaqona theft in recent years, although Police had managed to contain and reduce such offences.