The shipment of the required equipment to operate Fiji’s first Mini Flour Mill at Nasalia village in Naitasiri will be delivered to Fiji early next month and it will enable the operations to process 3 local products to process flour in Fiji.
This development follows discussions between Fiji’s Minister for Women Dr Jiko Luveni and Fiji’s Ambassador to Indonesia H.E Seremaia Tui Cavuilati in Jakarta, Indonesia this week.
Minister Luveni said the machines to start the Mini Flour Mill at Nasalia will be sent across from Indonesia and should be arriving in Fiji soon.
“This is indeed a good news for the people of Nasalia who have been waiting for the equipment to start the mini flour mill. A youth from the village has already been sent to Indonesia and had the opportunity to acquire the skills of producing flour using cassava, banana and breadfruit.
“This initiative will boost the income generating and benefit the people of Nasalia, particularly in improving their livelihood. We are grateful to the Indonesian government for providing the training and equipment in starting Fiji’s mini-flour mill to begin operations next year,” she said.
The Minister is Indonesia meeting with various government officials and private organisations as part of efforts to secure opportunities for women in Fiji. Later this week, she will hold discussions with Indonesia’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Fiji’s Embassy in Jakarta to establish socioeconomic opportunities for women in Fiji.
Meanwhile, the head of the Nasalia Development Committee, Inoke Masau, said farmers in Nasalia have been encouraged to plant more of these food commodities to ensure consistency in supply once the flour mill operations start.
“Once we have all the things we need for the mill, we will be ready to get started. The farmers had been informed to plant more cassava, bananas and breadfruit,” Mr Masau said.
In December 2012, the Nasalia Women’s Centre was officially opened by the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama with the vision of creating “One Centre One Product” concept, the Ministry of Agriculture had identified flour- making to be a major product that can be produced by the women of Nasalia.
“Individual women in different parts of the country specialise in making products that they do well, with a consistent standard and produce something that can be marketed more effectively so that they can get maximum returns,” the Prime Minister had reiterated.
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