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ding Fijian villages with income From P19 While coffee may well be a substantial earner for Fiji in the future, the government has also been concentrating heavily on reviving cacao plantations, particularly in the north to help fuel prospective international supply shortages from South America as demand for chocolate continues to increase. Senior Agriculture Officer for Macuata, Kanito Matagasau, said that government money has been set aside to upgrade facilities at a combined collection site in order for it to cater for smaller cocoa growers in the northern division. “The dryers are being repaired which will assist in the proper fermentation process and maintaining good quality dried cocoa beans for the markets.” The collection site will be part of the Matasawalevu Cocoa project – one of the largest cocoa farms in Fiji, with all necessary facilities required for processing of cocoa. Owned by the Matasawalevu Cocoa Co-operative group, production has dropped drastically.
Above – Nancye Naivalule and the chief of one of the villages with fresh cacao plantations. Left – A New Zealand coffee entrepreneur is making a real difference to Fijian villages like the one Nancye Naivalule comes from. Right – The raw green coffee bean before processing. PHOTOS NADINE PORTER
During its peak production time the farm had the potential to produce 110 tonnes of dried cocoa beans annually, but the current production is close to only 1 tonne per year. Now the farm has been leased by Arif Khan of Cacao Fiji who intends to develop this farm to its full potential. Mr Khan said he decided to lease the farm as there were huge markets available for dried cocoa beans. “This cocoa farm is one of the biggest farms in Fiji comprising of a total land area of over 400 acres with all necessary facilities. “The farm was left idle for the past 14 years with no production, but looking at the potential I decided to lease the whole property.” Mr Khan said some fermented cocoa beans were sent to France recently. “And we have received positive feedback which seems to be another strong market where we can supply.” Cacao beans have been fetching over $4388 per tonne internationally, with global shortages predicted by 2020.
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