Fiji: More Farmers Take up Tobacco Farming

Source from:  Fiji Times 05/15/2015

About 500 farmers in the Western Division are involved in tobacco farming.

Interest in the highly successful and lucrative sector has resulted in a slow but steady increase in tobacco production by local farmers.

British American Tobacco Fiji leaf growing manager Khondoker Abdul Matin said farmers were mainly from Sigatoka and Nadi.

"The number has increased from last year and that is reflective of the demand that we are getting," he said.

"For the leaf growing part of the cycle, most of the farmers are in Sigatoka and Nadi.

"We have a high tech greenhouse in Nadi that grows all of the seedlings which are then delivered to the farmers."

He said the farmers were assisted at every stage until the harvesting process.

"Before they even start planting we give them technical advice and give them seedlings, fertilisers and equipment that they need to plant and grow the leaves.

"We have roughly about 60 per cent of our farmers in Sigatoka and the other 40 per cent are in Nadi."

He said the investment had caused farmers to ensure the consistent harvest of quality product.

"Each farmer is taken on a contract basis and according to their performance their contracts are renewed."

BAT farmer of the year Taina Waqa from the Bila Sector harvested a total of 3969 kilograms of tobacco leaves per hectare.

She said the benefits of being involved in tobacco farming were immense.

"I am very grateful for the help I have received so far and the success I have experienced in this farming, it has really helped me support my family," she said. Enditem