VINAKA Farm is making significant strides in agricultural innovation in Fiji, transitioning from traditional open field farming to facility agriculture with the development of 11 acres of greenhouses. Located in Navua, this agribusiness has expanded its operations from an initial 20 acres in 2020 to its current 150 acres and has established itself as one of Fiji’s top exporters of organic ginger, particularly to markets in Australia and New Zealand.
After facing unprecedented rainfall in March and April last year, which severely impacted their ginger crops, Vinaka Farm’s representative, Xiaoli Liu, emphasized the need to rethink their production model. “The heavy rains had a massive impact not just on us but on ginger farmers across the country,” Liu noted. The move towards greenhouse cultivation will allow the farm to control critical environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and irrigation to protect crops and ensure a consistent supply to international buyers.
Currently, the farm is experimenting with various produce, including green beans, cowpeas, eggplants, peppers, spinach, radishes, and ginger, in the first phase of this transition. This strategic shift aims to guarantee year-round production of ginger to meet growing international demands.
The farm is already organic certified and employs local labor for both planting and harvesting, contributing to rural employment opportunities. Investment Fiji has recently highlighted Vinaka Farm’s progress and announced upcoming plans for a processing factory, which will enhance agricultural exports from Fiji. Liu also mentioned the diversification of product lines to include various vegetables, spices like turmeric, and root crops like taro.
This transition represents not only a necessary adaptation to changing climatic realities but also aligns with efforts in Fiji’s agricultural sector to implement climate-smart practices, fostering high-value exports and ensuring economic resilience. Such initiatives reflect a collective push within Fiji’s agriculture to enhance productivity, improve market access, and support local farmers, signaling a hopeful outlook for the industry overall.
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