Agriculture seminar equips farmers for export market

Fruits and vegetable farmers in the
West are looking at opportunities to
export their produce and have made
their interest known through the
Investment Fiji office. This woman
sells her vegetables at the Lami market.
Picture: ELIKI NUKUTABU

Frederica Elbourne

AGRICULTURAL export can expect a boost after a two-day seminar on export readiness ended on a high note.

Participants of a joint seminar on export readiness, organised by the Fiji Export Council and the Fiji New Zealand Business Council say the event can not have come at a better time with many players from the agriculture sector trying to get into the export business.

The seminar in Suva was facilitated by international business trainer Steve Cordeiro in conjunction with the Fiji Export Council and Fiji New Zealand Business Council.

Drawing 55 participants from the existing exporters and potential exporters in the country, the seminar gained positive feedback.

Chief executive officer of Natures Way Michael Brown said Fijis economy needed the necessary thrust through enhancing exports measures.

And this was even more important for the agricultural sector after the recent flood disasters in January and March this year, he said.

The training seminar has provided exporters and potential entrants a better understanding of the mechanisms and processes to export their produce with greater efficiency and minimising costs, Mr Brown said.

Participants included pawpaw farmers and representatives from the copra industry.

Senikula Rotan of Copra Millers Limited said the seminar was an eye-opener for those with limited knowledge on exporting.

I got to know the real picture of exporting and knowledge of how to go about exporting,how to overcome the barriers, learn about our competitors.

I thought exporting was just a matter of putting our products on the ships and send to our buyer and thats all. Little did I know it had to be done in a proper way, a proper survey had to be carried out for the buyer or competitor. If I have to think of my own business dealing with exporting then I will apply that knowledge that I gained from the seminar, Ms Rotan said.

Pleass Beverage export manager, Asmeel Ram said the workshop was informative and educational as it highlighted key points which were often overlooked.

He said the Fiji Export Council should hold more workshops for exporters in the Northern and Western divisions.

It would also be great if more workshops are conducted in specific areas of export so that exporters can benefit from it, Mr Ram said.

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