To continue this free service to you, we include affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission from purchases made through links. Commissions received from linked purchases will help fund ongoing costs.
Turmeric has emerged as a major contributor to Fiji’s export sector, garnering attention from parliamentarians.
During a recent Parliament session, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica, highlighted turmeric’s potential to become a billion-dollar opportunity for Fiji’s trade sector.
“According to the Bureau of Statistics, Fiji’s turmeric exports to the US, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and Tuvalu in 2023 totaled $24.8 million,” Mr. Kamikamica reported. This is a notable increase from 2022, when exports were valued at $21.6 million with around 2,500 tonnes exported.
He noted that turmeric became a vital product for the agricultural sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, with substantial volumes shipped to the United States.
“The Ministry of Trade has a theory about the economics of agriculture,” he stated. “If we can identify about 10 exports that can generate $100 million annually, that would be a billion-dollar opportunity.”
Turmeric is considered one of these promising products, though the industry faces challenges, particularly with price fluctuations that impact farmers’ incomes.
“Currently, the issue for farmers is price instability, which affects their ability to sustain a reliable income from their efforts. This has been a challenge for turmeric and other products as well,” he explained.
While there is some budget allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture to support turmeric, Mr. Kamikamica emphasized the need for measures to stabilize pricing, akin to the support provided to the sugar industry, to foster further growth in turmeric production.
The Ministry of Trade views turmeric as a priority and is developing strategies to enhance its market potential.
“Although turmeric is currently grown in the wild in Fiji, there is significant interest in developing organic turmeric markets and expanding farm development to boost export volumes,” he said. “The goal is to potentially reach an export target of $50 million and beyond.”