SPICES are usually very high value lucrative agricultural commodities and if looked after well, it can earn high returns within a small land area.
Senior Agriculture Officer (Rewa) Mohammed Kadir Khan said this during a tour of the Spice Farm at Wainadoi, Navua by a visiting group of farmers from the Rewa Province yesterday.
The potential of spice farming as a profitable agricultural product was highlighted to the farmers.
Mr Khan said the tour was organised to create awareness and demonstrate the market linkage opportunities among farmers, which they could take advantage of.
“It is very important to create awareness among the farmers on the various types of spices that can be cultivated in the country as there is a need to get farmers to take up spice farming as an alternative viable agriculture produce to complement their current production,” Mr Khan said.
Among the group of farmers visiting the farm was Ro Aca Mataitini, a farmer from Lomanikoro, Rewa, who said the field trip was enlightening and encouraging.
Spice Farm of Fiji, which was founded by its late owner Ronald Gatty is located in Wainadoi, Navua and has over the years developed to become a model spice farm in the country and many groups of farmers from all over the country visit the farm to further their knowledge on the cultivation of different spices.
Spice farms produce different horticultural spices which include nutmegs, cloves, vanilla, pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and other various types of spices.
