Ministry aims to revive coconut industry
The Ministry of Forestry and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) have signed a Sub-Contract Agreement (S-C Agreement) for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project for coconut and other non-traditional wood and forest products following the endorsement of Fiji’s Cabinet on February 15 2023.
The signing took place at the Sofitel Resort and Spa in Denarau, Nadi, last Wednesday (March 8, 2023) at a side-event for Senile Coconut Palm Utilisation for Engineered Wood Products during the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry.
The agreement was signed by QDAF’s research facility and project manager, Dr Rob McGavin and Fiji’s Acting Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry, Atelaite Rokosuka, witnessed by ACIAR’s research programme manager for forestry, Dr Nora Devoe.
ACIAR had funded the installation and commissioning of a research spindle-less lathe facility at the then Timber Utilization Research and Training Division facility in Nasinu.
With the decline in native forests’ production, the Fiji Forestry Ministry has identified non-wood forest products like coconut as having the potential to fill in the gap and meet market demand.
Through the QDAF, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Pacific Community (SPC) and ACIAR, made a significant technological breakthrough by demonstrating for the first time that high density, senile coconut stems can be reliably peeled into quality veneer using relatively low-cost, spindle-less lathe technologies before being manufactured into Engineered Wood Products such as plywood.
Mrs Rokosuka said the Fiji Ministry of Forestry and the Australian Government have had a long lasting relationship that has culminated over the years through several development projects, reaping benefits that include technology transfer and capacity building.
She said the issue of senile palms needs to be effectively dealt with to support Government’s efforts to revive the coconut industry.
“We witnessed another milestone in our Vuvale partnership with the signing of the Subcontract Agreement for Engineered Wood Products in collaboration with the Pacific Community and the ACIAR, through the QDAF,” Mrs Rokosuka said.
“This project is one we see promoting value addition in the industry and would certainly support the Ministry’s goal of supporting economic recovery and alternative livelihoods for Fijians.”
She added that this project has positive social, economic and environmental impacts, including a source of income for farmers and ensuring sustainable forestry through using senile coconut trees.