The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Colonel Inia Seruiratu visited Maqere Exports in Tavua earlier this week to witness its operations.
Maqere Exports was recently assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture in building a new packing shed valued at $31,000.00.
The Ministry’s senior agriculture officer (BA) Unaisi Remudu said that there was a need to assist this export company as it is a major market to many small holder farmers around the Western Division.
Mrs Remudu said the Ministry of Agriculture will work closely with the company for the next five (5) years to assist them in implementing the plans that they have. She said with these new facilities, Maqere Export will have the capacity to increase the volume of exports overseas.
Maqere Exports started its operation in 1978 and has continued to export a wide variety of commodities to New Zealand.
The Operations Manager at Maqere Exports, Mohammad Jamal Khan said that it is a family owned business and they have their family owned outlet in New Zealand where they sell all the commodities exported from Fiji.
"We export a wide range of commodities such as okra, long beans, eggplant, cassava, and dalo."
Maqere Exports buy vegetables from the farmers between Sigatoka and Rakiraki areas.
Mr Khan said that cassava exports have just started last month and currently they buy peeled cassava from farmers in Rakiraki at 70 cents per kilogram.
"Last month we exported a total of 27 tonnes of cassava and 8 tonnes of dalo to New Zealand in two different consignments."We also export seasonal commodities such as ginger and Tahitian chest nut (ivi)," said Mr Khan.
The main problem faced by the exporter is the inconsistency in the supply of produce from the farmers and that poses the loss of market overseas. Mr Khan said that if the farmers are consistent with the supply then they will be able to maintain the export market and possibly expand in the future.
"There are many exporters from Fiji and other countries also trying to enter the New Zealand export market."
Minister Seruiratu assured Mr Khan that the Ministry of Agriculture will work closely with the farmers to ensure consistent supply of export commodities.
According to Mr. Khan they also export fresh fish to New Zealand which is supplied to them by fishermen from as far as Labasa.
The company employs twenty (20) full time labourers and an additional 10 during its peak operation seasons.
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