Fiji Agriculture
Agriculture, which was once a major stronghold of Fiji’s economy, now
comprises only 8.9% of the nation’s GDP. More than three-quarters of all Fijian
households used to engage in agricultural-related activities, but now many of
those workers have switched over to the growing service industry.
Sugarcane is Fiji’s most important agricultural industry, accounting for over
one-third of all of Fiji’s industrial activity. Indigenous Fijians own most
farmland and local residents of Indian ancestry farm it and produce about 90% of
all sugarcane, which is then processed into raw sugar and molasses in the Fiji
Sugar Corporation, which is predominantly owned and run by the government. The
European Union is the largest export market for Fiji’s sugar.
Coconut and copra (the dried meat of the coconut) are also important agricultural products that are widely used and exported from Fiji. There was a ban on exporting copra until 1998, and since then a new copra-buying company has emerged, raising the price of copra considerably. Fiji also grows and exports bananas, pineapples, watermelons, cereal, rice, corn, ginger, cocoa and tobacco.
Sugarcane is Fiji’s most important agricultural industry, accounting for over
one-third of all of Fiji’s industrial activity. Indigenous Fijians own most
farmland and local residents of Indian ancestry farm it and produce about 90% of
all sugarcane, which is then processed into raw sugar and molasses in the Fiji
Sugar Corporation, which is predominantly owned and run by the government. The
European Union is the largest export market for Fiji’s sugar.Coconut and copra (the dried meat of the coconut) are also important agricultural products that are widely used and exported from Fiji. There was a ban on exporting copra until 1998, and since then a new copra-buying company has emerged, raising the price of copra considerably. Fiji also grows and exports bananas, pineapples, watermelons, cereal, rice, corn, ginger, cocoa and tobacco.
