ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
About $22 million circulates annually on the island of Taveuni, says acting agriculture officer Taveuni Apenisa Ravasea.
Speaking at the project management workshop held on the island for agricultural officers, Mr Ravasea said the $22m was derived from livestock and crops grown on the island.
The island also supplies five tonnes of pineapple every week to hotels along the Coral Coast in the west.
"Out of the $22m, about $16m is from dalo and $6m from livestock and other crops, including yaqona," Mr Ravasea said.
He added that dalo farmers raked in $16m last year.
"Taveuni Island has a lot of potential to generate micro businesses, including farming which brings about such huge circulation of income.
"Even though there are challenges, farmers have remained adamant and positive to continue to produce and plant crops."
The dry season, he added, was one of the challenges farmers faced every year.
"The dry season on the island usually results in a drop of production. The rainfall pattern has also changed and a contributing factor is climate change.
"Taking into consideration such challenges farmers face on the island, we have encouraged them to have diverse farming practices.
"Farmers are not to concentrate on dalo only but have yaqona and vegetable farms as well."
Mr Ravasea said some farmers had poultry and livestock.
"It is imperative to have such farms to supplement income for families."
The high income generated on the island has resulted in the heightening of security measures to ban all kinds of plants transported to Taveuni from other parts of the country.
Mr Ravasea said plants and crops found on ships and planes that travelled to the island have been destroyed.
"Taveuni does not have any dalo beetle so we are protecting our dalo industry. The island is also the major market of dalo export so it is imperative that we protect our farmers and the industry."
About $22 million circulates annually on the island of Taveuni, says acting agriculture officer Taveuni Apenisa Ravasea.
Speaking at the project management workshop held on the island for agricultural officers, Mr Ravasea said the $22m was derived from livestock and crops grown on the island.
...
About $22 million circulates annually on the island of Taveuni, says acting agriculture officer Taveuni Apenisa Ravasea.
Speaking at the project management workshop held on the island for agricultural officers, Mr Ravasea said the $22m was derived from livestock and crops grown on the island.
The island also supplies five tonnes of pineapple every week to hotels along the Coral Coast in the west.
"Out of the $22m, about $16m is from dalo and $6m from livestock and other crops, including yaqona," Mr Ravasea said.
He added that dalo farmers raked in $16m last year.
"Taveuni Island has a lot of potential to generate micro businesses, including farming which brings about such huge circulation of income.
"Even though there are challenges, farmers have remained adamant and positive to continue to produce and plant crops."
The dry season, he added, was one of the challenges farmers faced every year.
"The dry season on the island usually results in a drop of production. The rainfall pattern has also changed and a contributing factor is climate change.
"Taking into consideration such challenges farmers face on the island, we have encouraged them to have diverse farming practices.
"Farmers are not to concentrate on dalo only but have yaqona and vegetable farms as well."
Mr Ravasea said some farmers had poultry and livestock.
"It is imperative to have such farms to supplement income for families."
The high income generated on the island has resulted in the heightening of security measures to ban all kinds of plants transported to Taveuni from other parts of the country.
Mr Ravasea said plants and crops found on ships and planes that travelled to the island have been destroyed.
"Taveuni does not have any dalo beetle so we are protecting our dalo industry. The island is also the major market of dalo export so it is imperative that we protect our farmers and the industry."
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