Tavioka Growers Third Symposium
Plans to promote security in health, finance and food have gained momentum over a symposium on the manufacture of cassava flour that took place in Suva yesterday.
Convened by the Tavioka (cassava in iTaukei language) Growers Association (TGA), the symposium discussed the production and business plans of farming tavioka in Fiji, as well as the manufacture of tavioka flour, considered worldwide as a healthier alternative because of its glutenfree content.
More than 100 farmers from around the country attended the event that was held at the conference centre of the Wesley Church in downtown Suva. A group of local corporate and business leaders are driving the formation of the Tavioka Growers Association (TGA), now a duly registered body with the Ministry of Employment and Industrial Relations.
The group has also registered the Tavioka Growers Pte Limited with the Registrar of Companies.
Speaking to the Fiji Sun at the symposium, Ratu Josaia Rayawa, the president of Tavioka Growers Association, said the three-pronged approach of the security benefits of tavioka in healthy lifestyles, finance and food is the guiding principle of the association.
“This movement is not about getting rid of all the other flours we have in Fiji, but rather it is to do with giving the people of this country a healthy option of consuming gluten-free flour.
“Because as you know, the consumers are not given any other choice right now, our entire diet in Fiji seems to revolve around flour that is not gluten-free.”
Ratu Josaia said TGA promoted financial security by not only offering to buy tavioka from farmers at farm gate prices, but in inviting growers to be owners also of the tavioka flour manufacturing and marketing company.
He said never before had an opportunity like this been offered to growers, where they would not only supply the raw material, but would be granted the opportunity to buy shares into the value adding processing company as well.
Ratu Josaia said: “Food security is also being met in the plans by TGA to encourage the growing of tavioka as well as in value adding.
“We are not processing tavioka into non-foods, so the very important matter of food security is still being met.
“This is a root crop that can be easily grown in the country and more or less anyone can grow it, so TGA is passionate about getting growers to plant more tavioka because we have a ready market for it, and that the growers themselves can be owners of the entire production process.
“Done right, this can grow into a billion dollar industry in no time.
“But we will need to change the mindset of our local growers first by getting them to take ownership of the entire process.”
Yesterday’s meeting identified key production areas that needed attention which included tavioka cuttings, organic pest control, delivery/shipping logistics and positioning a flour milling factories strategically in Fiji. Furthermore, using the agricultural Traseable app as well as the proposed Sole financial management software were also featured.
With over 6200 people joining the symposium through live-streaming and more than 16,000 who later viewed the meeting on the Tavioka Growers Association Facebook page, it was resolved that association should take its membership drive outside Suva, and that the Tavioka Growers Pte Ltd needed to operationalise to oversee and manage development.