Fiji and India are taking significant steps to enhance their cooperation in agriculture, sugar production, livestock management, and rural development, as confirmed during recent high-level discussions in New Delhi. Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Tomasi Tunabuna, engaged in talks with India’s Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, at the Krishi Bhawan. The meeting served as a platform to discuss the expansion of bilateral collaboration in vital agricultural sectors.
During the meeting, Tunabuna conveyed warm regards from the Fijian government and its people, as well as well wishes from Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, reaffirming Fiji’s appreciation for its longstanding ties with India. He emphasized the country’s commitment to modernizing its agricultural sector with a focus on climate resilience, leveraging new technologies, and fostering innovation.
Tunabuna outlined several national priorities, including the advancement of digital and smart agriculture, the application of drone technologies, the use of nano-fertilizers, the enhancement of irrigation systems, and the modernization of the sugar industry. He noted the importance of adopting circular bio-economy practices, which have become increasingly relevant in sustainable agricultural development.
India’s experience in agricultural technology, integrated value chains, and farmer-focused innovation offers significant potential for supporting Fiji’s agricultural ambitions. Fiji expressed keen interest in forming practical partnerships to enhance various areas, such as implementing digital farm and livestock registries, developing value-added processing capabilities, establishing sugar-based bio-industries, managing food waste, and utilizing agricultural by-products for animal feed.
The ministers also discussed avenues for skills development, technical support, and collaborative research, and agreed to explore the formation of a Fiji–India working group dedicated to agriculture, sugar, livestock, and bio-industries. They considered the potential for pilot projects and a multi-year cooperation framework, further solidifying the partnership between the two nations.
In conclusion, the discussions reaffirmed the strength of Fiji–India relations and a mutual commitment to supporting farmers, enhancing rural livelihoods, and ensuring national food security. Tunabuna expressed his satisfaction with the confirmation that the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries is set to be extended for an additional five years in June, paving the way for continued collaboration and growth in these critical sectors.
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