The first-ever 2024 Pacific Agri-Innovate Business Plan Competition was launched in Suva yesterday. This initiative aims to promote innovation and entrepreneurship within the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sector, particularly in agriculture.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica, highlighted that the competition represents a significant step for Fiji in driving innovation, resilience, and the growth of MSMEs in agriculture, ultimately aiming to boost economic development. He stated, “Through this competition, we aim to empower you with the resources, mentorship, and exposure necessary to turn your innovative ideas into viable, sustainable agricultural practices.”
The competition also provides participants with the chance to establish the country’s first agri-business incubation center, which will expedite support for agricultural startups and innovations. Joann Young, Assistant Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Fiji, remarked that the launch reflects a unified commitment among the FAO, the Trade Ministry, and the Ministry of Agriculture to advance agribusiness in Fiji.
Young noted, “By providing the necessary resources, infrastructure, and expertise, we can help create a more vibrant ecosystem for agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship that benefits all stakeholders in the sector.”
The Pacific Agri-Innovate competition is part of the Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agrifood Systems in Fiji, Samoa, and Solomon Islands (STODAS) project, which aims to enhance rural agribusiness development through business incubation and technology commercialization. Ramesh Chand, general manager of Business Assistance Fiji, stated that the initiative seeks to identify, nurture, and showcase innovative agribusinesses with significant growth potential in the Pacific.
The competition was launched simultaneously in Samoa and the Solomon Islands and will encompass areas such as post-harvest and food technology, value chain development, farm retail, sustainable agriculture, farm mechanization, and supply chain management, among others. The winner will receive $1,000 (approximately $F2,216) and will also gain access to mentoring and advanced incubation support. A dedicated competition website has also been launched.