Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka today officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for a new agriculture initiative, the New Valley Processing and Cold Chain Facility in Nadi, marking another major development in the agriculture sector and rural economy.
The Sabeto-based facility, developed by New Valley Processing (Fiji) Ltd., is part of an innovative model aimed at transforming rural farming in Fiji by connecting remote communities with high-value markets.
Delivering his remarks, PM Rabuka acknowledged the company’s commitment in uplifting smallholder farmers, particularly in hard-to-reach highland provinces like Ra, Naitasiri, and Nadroga-Navosa.
“I am particularly drawn to the powerful meaning behind New Valley’s slogan — “Markets Beyond Mountains.” It captures the very heart of what we are trying to achieve for our rural and hard-to-reach farmers,” said Hon. Rabuka.
“This slogan reflects a bold new vision — one where distance is no longer a barrier, and where even the most remote communities can connect to global opportunities. New Valley is not just bringing markets closer; it is bringing hope, empowerment, and a pathway to better livelihoods for our farmers.”
The project currently engages more than 10,400 farmers across 126 clusters, from Rakiraki to Sigatoka, and will offer full-cycle support — from land preparation and seedlings to premium farm gate produce procurement.
PM Rabuka highlighted that such initiatives align closely with the government’s broader goals for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of many of our rural economies. It is the source of food, income, and dignity for thousands of Fijian families, and through projects like New Valley, we are taking practical steps to increase productivity, promote value-adding and exports, and improve the livelihoods of our farmers.”
He reaffirmed the government’s support for modernising agriculture through increased budget allocation, youth training programs, and public-private partnerships that deliver essential machinery and equipment to farming clusters.
The Prime Minister also spoke on the need to go beyond traditional farming tools and practices, calling for the adoption of technology, climate-smart agriculture, and agro-processing.
“The days of equipping our farmers only with kutari, selekava, and mataiva and expecting radical changes in farm production are long gone,” he added.
With increasing global demand for plant-based and traceable food products, the Prime Minister underscored the need for investment in food technology, branding, and value-added product development — areas where Fiji has untapped potential.
He acknowledged strong investor interest from major players including Fiji Water, Aitken Spence of Sri Lanka, and a Papua New Guinea firm currently in talks with FNPF and BSP.
“With the right partnerships, we believe Fiji can feed the region and beyond,” the PM remarked.
“Your Government is not stopping here. We want to build on this momentum and do even more in the coming months — working hand in hand with our rural communities, partners, and the private sector to unlock the full potential of Fiji’s agriculture and connecting these to external markets.”
The Prime Minister concluded by encouraging development partners and donor agencies to continue supporting grassroots agricultural initiatives, noting that the success of projects like New Valley are measured not just in export volumes but in “lives changed.”
