Hydroponic farmers have been told to grow vegetables all year-round so that they can continuously supply to hotels and resorts.
A total of 19 farmers in the Western Division received offer letters for the Ministry of Agriculture’s Hydroponics and Protected Agriculture program to start hydroponics farms.
Agriculture Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy said hydroponics farming should be year-round production of crops and vegetables for local markets, particularly for the tourism sector.
“Our tourism sector has started to open up and we don’t want to get the tourism sector to say that we don’t have enough supply from within,” he said.
“We want to supply to them and fulfil pretty much all the requirements but of course, there will be some fruits and vegetables that they will still have to import.
“We can save about $25 million if we supply consistently to the tourism sector.
“Then the other issue with the tourism sector is, they would say, yes, you can supply during the season but what about the off-season?”
Seven farmers from Nadi, five from Ba, three in Tavua and Rakiraki respectively and one from Sigatoka received six by 15 metres plastic houses with a frame with additional accessories.
The hydroponics system will be eight by 2.2 metres and can grow 400 plants at any one time.
