By Serafina Silaitoga

The exodus of Fijians through the seasonal work program has created a limbo, leaving exporters in a dilemma to meet growing demands of dalo in New Zealand and Australia, while trying to locally source sustainable supply.

Workers gone under the National Employment Centre over the past years have added to the growing demand overseas, says Agricultural Marketing Authority’s executive chairman Jone Sovalawa.

As a result of the situation, Mr Sovalawa has pleaded with those left behind (who have not gone for seasonal work programs) and can plant dalo to increase production to meet the demand.

The demand has doubled from a 30,000 tonnes of dalo per month to about 60,000 tonnes to meet the demand in the two countries and America as well.

“Those gone have added to the demand in Australia and New Zealand and through the Ministry of Agriculture, that we come under, we encourage local farmers to increase production,” he said.

“Consistency in supply is a challenge we face so while we are trying to meet international demand, we are encouraging people to plant more dalo.

“Other issues are the access to farms with some having no proper farm roads and lack of consistency that we face as supply varies.”

Mr Sovalawa said they have reminded farmers about the importance of consistency to meet market demand.

ITaukei Affairs Minister Ifereimi Vasu said this was a true picture in villages with many shifting to NEC programs for a better living standard.

“Right now we are trying to look at programs and ways of keeping our villagers back home so they won’t move overseas as seasonal workers, but it’s quite a challenge,” he said.

“With the high payments they receive overseas and have been able to build themselves better houses and supply for their families needs, what other program can we introduce to keep them back?

“So it’s a real challenge but the reality is the better income they receive while working that side.”

Assistant Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna said they were aware of this challenge and their weekly marketing survey has revealed this.

“There’s quite a lot of factors as well affecting low production.”