Fiji will deepen agricultural cooperation with India to bolster productivity and livelihoods in rural communities after a fresh round of talks between Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna and India’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Suneet Mehta.
The two met as the Joint Working Group (JWG) — set up following Tunabuna’s visit to India in January 2026 — convened last Tuesday to map out practical areas for collaboration. Officials from Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry and Indian counterparts used the meeting to identify priority sectors where technical support and knowledge-sharing could be deployed quickly, including coconut, rice, cocoa, dairy and sugar.
A key development from the discussions was India’s readiness to extend the existing bilateral agricultural cooperation agreement with Fiji for an additional five years. The proposed extension would secure a longer runway for projects delivering technical assistance, capacity-building, and sustainable development initiatives aimed at smallholder farmers and rural communities across the islands.
Minister Tunabuna framed the renewed partnership as targeted at enhancing on-farm productivity and improving household incomes. He said the extended cooperation would allow both countries to roll out longer-term programmes that move beyond short-term interventions to sustained support tailored to Fiji’s farming systems and value chains. High Commissioner Mehta signalled New Delhi’s continued interest in practical, on-the-ground assistance as part of the bilateral relationship.
The JWG’s remit, established after Tunabuna’s January visit, is to translate bilateral commitments into concrete projects — from training and agronomic advice to technology transfer and research partnerships — across the five focal commodities. Coconut and cocoa are seen as important for diversification and value-addition for smallholders, while rice, dairy and sugar remain central to food security and livelihoods in many rural districts.
The move comes as Fiji’s agriculture sector seeks stability and investment to recover from climate and market shocks. Continued cooperation with India would provide a steady source of technical expertise and potential investment in areas such as improved planting material, post-harvest handling and farmer training programmes, officials said. For the government, the five-year extension offers policy continuity and the ability to plan multi-year interventions that can reach more communities.
Next steps include the JWG drafting a detailed workplan and timelines for priority projects, and formalising the extension of the bilateral agreement through diplomatic channels. The meetings and the proposed agreement extension mark the latest development in Tunabuna’s efforts to strengthen external partnerships to support Fiji’s farmers and rural economies.
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