Sheep farming in Fiji has expanded significantly in recent years, and interest in the industry continues to rise.
Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Tomasi Tunabuna, told Parliament that Fiji’s sheep industry is thriving, with more farmers involved and better breeds improving output. He said the main goals — reducing imports, protecting the environment, and using grasslands — have stayed the same since the 1950s.
“Sheep are less damaging to the environment than goats and are better suited to Fiji’s farming systems,” the Minister said. “They graze rather than browse, which makes them ideal for integration with crops like coconuts, coca, dalo, and sugarcane.”
In 2016, the Ministry imported 74 Dorper sheep and 3 Australian White rams to improve the genetic quality of local breeds.
While overall results were mixed, the first-generation crosses showed excellent growth and weight gain and these improved breeds have since been distributed to farmers.
“We were confident then that our Fiji Fantastic Breed can and will only be improved through the introduction of new Barbados Black Belly,” the Minister added.
Minister Tunabuna added that the number of private sheep farms has grown from 503 in 2014 to 1,280 in 2025 — a 61% increase and the national flock have more than doubled, from 18,603 to 41,895 over the same period and the growth has been especially strong in the Western and Northern Divisions, creating jobs, supporting rural communities, and contributing to food security and economic development.
