Fiji Rice Ltd chairman Raj Sharma announced that there are currently 600 registered rice farmers in Fiji, with expectations for this number to grow significantly. Speaking at the opening of the Fiji Rice Mill in Nailaga, Ba last Saturday, Sharma mentioned that 100 of these farmers are from the Western Division.
“With this new mill in place and growing interest from farmers, we anticipate substantial growth in the number of farmers,” said Sharma.
He explained that currently, 10 percent of paddy comes from Viti Levu and the goal is to increase this to 25 percent in the next two sessions. The targets are set at 1600 farmers by 2025, 1800 by 2026, and 2230 by 2027.
Sharma also noted increasing interest from first-time rice growers in Vanua Levu, including Wailevu Village, Yalava Village, and Nabua (Savusavu), with the Ministry of Agriculture coordinating and facilitating joint training initiatives.
Additionally, landowners in Rakiraki and Tailevu have shown interest in rice farming and have met with the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB).