On November 14, 1984, a pivotal moment in Fiji’s agricultural history was marked by an article in *The Fiji Times* reporting on the successful launch of commercial onion farming in the country. This initiative, driven by extensive crop testing and funding, led to an impressive yield of 350 tonnes of onions from a farmer in Yaqara, Tavua, establishing Fiji’s first commercial onion crop.
The occasion was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held by then Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who emphasized the significance of the project in a speech to an enthusiastic audience. He remarked, “Today we see human effort bearing fruit,” reflecting his optimism about the sustainability and success of the farming venture.
The initiative was executed by Yaqara Projects Ltd, in partnership with Australian agriculturist Dr. Peter Blood, combining expertise and resources under a 75-25 equity arrangement. Yaqara Projects emerged as a subsidiary of Yaqara Pastoral Co. Ltd with key figures such as Abdul Yusuf, chairman of the parent company, and Dr. Blood participating in leadership. The undertaking received substantial backing from Australia, amounting to $312,000 from the Australian Development Assistance Bureau to support the project’s equity.
Following favorable trials in the previous year, eight hectares were cultivated with various onion types, yielding significant results. Plans were laid out for expanding production to 40 hectares in the following season, alongside initial plans for garlic farming, indicating promising prospects on the horizon.
Dr. Blood acknowledged the challenges presented by weeds and diseases but assured that these were under control, especially before the crucial bulbing stage of the onions. Yusuf, highlighting the economic rationale behind cultivating onions, pointed out the costly expense of importing the vegetable, which had burdened Fiji with around $2 million in recent years. He predicted that earnings from casual labor connected to the project could exceed $30,000 as the entire 100 acres was expected to be productive by the 1985-86 period.
Encouraging local distributors to support the growing onion market, Yusuf also urged for potential government intervention to help manage market dynamics as more homegrown onions became available in the future.
Prime Minister Ratu Mara reinforced the project’s role in diversifying Fiji’s economy, aligning with government policies aimed at import substitution and bolstering local food production. He noted that the locally grown onions surpassed the quality of imported ones, attesting to their adaptability to Yaqara’s unique soil and low rainfall conditions.
Ian Thomson, chairman of the Economic Development Board, welcomed these advancements, especially considering the significant increase in onion imports the previous year, which reached 4,724 tonnes, costing $1.04 million. With local agricultural production on the rise, this initiative not only signifies a move towards self-sufficiency but also offers a pathway for sustainable economic growth in Fiji, demonstrating the capability of local projects to fulfill domestic demand effectively.