CABI representatives recently visited Fiji to discuss potential collaboration aimed at strengthening sustainable agriculture, improving livelihoods, supporting trade, and addressing food security challenges. The delegation also discussed the role of agriculture in conserving Fiji's biodiversity, including coral reefs, mangroves, and rainforests.
The delegation included Dr Feng Zhang, Regional Director for East & Southeast Asia; Sally Stone, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Asia Pacific; and Dr Ravindra C. Joshi, Honorary Research Associate. They met with Fijian officials, including the Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Hon. Vatimi Rayalu, and Permanent Secretary Dr Andrew Tukana.
Rayalu emphasized the need for greater collaboration across stakeholders to support agricultural growth. "We want the agriculture sector to grow, and for this to happen, we need more collaboration," he said, noting government efforts to expand services and investment in farming. He also highlighted the Ministry's focus on improving livelihoods and generating employment, particularly for women and youth, through targeted policy frameworks.
Additional meetings were held with Dr Tekini Nakidakida, Deputy Secretary for Agricultural Development, and other senior staff from the Ministry. Consultations also took place with representatives from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Fiji National University, and the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji.
Key discussion areas included capacity building for extension services, development of value-addition industries, biosecurity and invasive species management, pesticide risk reduction, digital tools, and improved access to biological alternatives. These priorities align with the Ministry's strategic goals for 2024–2028, including food security, inclusive livelihoods, climate resilience, agricultural commercialization, and improved service delivery.
Fiji's main crops include sugarcane, cassava, taro, yams, and tropical fruits such as papaya and pineapple. In recent years, local industries have expanded into processed products, including vegetable chips, juices, kava, and semi-processed ginger.
Despite this progress, the sector faces persistent challenges. Climate change, extreme weather events, and pests—such as fruit flies, armyworms, and leaf gall disease—continue to impact productivity. Cyclone Winston in 2016 highlighted the vulnerability of infrastructure and crops to natural disasters.
Fiji is also home to high levels of endemism, with over 50% of its plants and birds found nowhere else. However, biodiversity is increasingly threatened by land-use change, pollution, and the introduction of non-native species. Forests cover about 52.6% of the country, but pressures from agriculture and development persist.
Sugarcane remains the dominant export crop, accounting for 70% of agricultural exports and supporting roughly 200,000 people. However, shifting rainfall patterns and declining returns have affected the sector. Efforts to diversify, such as integrating rice into sugarcane wetlands, are underway.
The visit served to identify shared areas of interest between CABI and Fiji, particularly in support of agricultural resilience and sustainable resource management.
For more information:
Wayne Coles
CABI
Tel: +44 (0) 1491 829395
Email: [email protected]
www.cabi.org