The increase in demand for Fiji’s yellow cassava variety has prompted the Agriculture Marketing Authority to increase its export.
The Authority’s sales manager Mr Alifereti Yaya said the first container load was exported in January this year while the second load will be packing on the third week of this month for export.
“We managed to fulfill the order from Australia in the first consignment with the 2 tonne load of yellow cassava and we are encouraging farmers to supply us with more yellow cassava,” Yaya said.
He said the supply of yellow cassava for export is from farmers in the Tailevu and Naitasiri province.
“We have been told by Agriculture Officers in Kadavu that farmers there will be able to contribute to the supplying of yellow cassava as well”, Mr Yaya said.
He said the concept now is for AMA to liaise with Agriculture Officers around the country who will then liaise with farmers on when to supply yellow cassava.
“The Agriculture Officers will supply us with the details on the volume of yellow cassava available and when they can be ready to be brought to our Nausori warehouse,” he said.
The authority said that it will now closely liaise and coordinate with relevant stakeholders including Government Agriculture officers and the Ministry of Provincial Development in particular with officers like Assistant Roko Tui to liaise with farmers on the crops they need for export.
M Yaya said their market in Melbourne is happy about the quality of yellow cassava that went on the first consignment.
“Pacific islanders and Africans in Australia are the biggest buyers of this yellow cassava and I encourage farmers to plant more,” Yaya said.
He said in the future they are expected to supply to other cities in Australia and even to markets in New Zealand.