ABOUT THE VENTURE:

The new agriculture commercial venture commissioned in Sigatoka yesterday would see large scale farming which would include dalo being planted on 1000 acres in the Naitasiri and Nausori to Navua corridor.

Plans, announced by Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Mahendra Reddy in Sigatoka to be undertaken by the venture includes: * Two varieties of Duruka

* Lemon plants – 5,000 units * Grafted lime plants - 5,000 units * Grafted Hass Avocado plants – 5,000 units

* Hybrid coconut, 5000 plants.

“I am pleased to note that Mr

Kumar along with his local partners, Mr Jiten Kumar and Mr Jai Kumar is venturing into large scale goat and sheep farming as well as high valued crops.

The ministry would supply seedlings on a monthly basis which includes 5000 coconut seedlings that are ready and with this staggered approach there would be more time to prepare their land as well as acquire new land.

“They have also began dalo farming in Tailevu and will be establishing

100 acres of dalo over the next 12 months with the first 12 acres almost complete.

“Given the scale of the project, it will take them at least five years to fully establish the commercial venture.”

Mr Reddy said Suren Kumar and his partners had already invested in acquiring basic machinery set for farm land preparation and have established a processing and packaging house.

He assured Government would do all it could to ensure that this venture was successful and became a model venture for other commercial farms.

“I wish to take this opportunity to extend an invitation to other potential investors to establish their operational office here in Fiji.

“And vertically intergrate with farm level production activity so that they have full control over supply and quality and value add and export from Fiji.”

Charles Chambers