Acknowledging agriculture as the backbone of Fiji’s economy, a new venture the Agribusiness Incubation Centre to support farmers, women and young people has been established.
Speaking in Parliament today, Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna said the Centre will sustain the trade especially amongst those who were new to it.
“Our farmers are the backbone of Fiji,” said the Minister. “Yet for too long, they have faced hurdles, aging demographics, limited access to innovation, and barriers to market access.”
The Minister also highlighted the need to support women and youth in agriculture.
“Our women, who play key roles in farm households and food security, have often been overlooked in training, finance, and decision-making and our young people, eager to build futures in agribusiness, have lacked clear pathways from idea to market. This situation is unacceptable.”
The Centre’s mission aligns with Fiji’s Non-Sugar Agriculture Sector Policy 2025–2035, which aims to build a climate-smart, innovative, and diverse agriculture sector.
The Agribusiness Incubation Centre will:
• Act as a one-stop shop for agribusiness support
• Provide training in business management, value chains, and post-harvest handling
• Help farmers and SMEs access markets through links with exporters and retailers
• Create incubation cohorts for coaching and shared workspace
• Promote climate-smart agriculture
“This is not theory; it is action,” the Minister said.
The Centre is expected to help early-stage agribusinesses grow into competitive and sustainable ventures and is funded by the European Union’s STODAS project and implemented through the Food and Agriculture Organisation.
