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Fiji’s seaweed farmers could be striking it big next year with a major new market secured in China, according to the Ministry of Primary Industries.
Permanent secretary Viliame Naupoto told FijiLive seaweed farming would be one of the ministry’s two pet projects next year as a market had been found in China.
“We have already started seaweed farming around Viti Levu; the outer islands too will be coming on board. It’s a lucrative business. Seaweed is already fetching around $800 a tonne to the farmers. It’s a six week crop, short term, so it’s better than sugar and dalo,” Naupoto said.
He said the market for Fiji seaweed had been secured in China and the ministry would work together with farmers to try and supply the demand.
“The demand is about 7000 tonnes a month. We can’t supply that right now but we will drive towards it. So we have the market, we just need to try to get our production up,” Naupoto said.
He said local seaweed farming had peaked in the 1980s but Fiji only managed to produce around 800 metric tones a year at the most, so improvements were needed.
“We will target our assistance a little bit better, get the money right down to the farmers on time and I’m sure we can get our production up,” he said.
