1 week Ago By TEMALESI VONO
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) for the Farm to Fork initiative, an initiative which promotes local agriculture by incorporating locally grown produce into the tourism chain. Speaking during the opening of the 2024 National Agriculture Show at the Valelevu grounds in Nasinu yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka said Fiji hosts close to two million visitors every year and hoped to “reduce the leakage in the economy by providing food locally to tourists”. “Fiji hosts close to a million visitors every year and with our national airline Fiji Airways, it would come to two million visitors because they account for the passengers both ways,” Mr Gavoka said.
“So, on some occasions, we are charged to feed a million visitors in Fiji. “In tourism, one of our huge challenges is the leakage factor. “Leakage in the sense of what leaves the country to import, and what’s to service our industry.
The significant part of it is food. “So, my interest in agriculture is to reduce that leakage so we can provide food locally for our tourists. “It’s not only one million, but it’ll also go to 1.
5, and in no time, it will reach 4, 5 million visitors.” He said collaboration with the other ministries and the UNFAO will solve this. “The collaboration will connect farmers directly with hotels, restaurants, and other tourism operators and will ensure that tourists experience the “freshest Fijian cuisine while supporting local agriculture”.
“By sourcing ingredients locally, this Farm to Fork initiative not only supports the local economy but also aligns with global sustainability trends and promotes ecofriendly tourism practices that benefit both the environment and the community,” Mr Gavoka said. “This initiative also emphasises sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint associated with importing food. “Our farmers are on the front lines of this transformation, equipped with the knowledge and skills not only to survive but to thrive in adversity.
”.
