The Government aims to reduce imports of fruits and vegetables by $80 million in 2020.
During the exporter’s symposium yesterday, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, David Kolitagane highlighted the agriculture trade showed a negative result of $453 million in 2016 – meaning that agricultural imports were more than exports.
He adds the value of export which includes both crops and livestock was $193 million in which export was mainly driven by major fresh and chilled commodities such as Taro, Ginger, Cassava, Pawpaw and Kava as well as other value added products such as Coconut Oil.
“Some may say that this is unrealistic, but we believe that everything is possible if we put all our efforts together in finding better ways and solutions to our problems. I believe this symposium supports the initiative of providing that platform for dialogue and better understanding of issues relating to agricultural trade especially our exports and to find ways to address those trade or market access issues.”
In that same year $646 million of commodities like rice, potato, dairy, fresh and chilled meat and others were imported.
He adds that the challenge now for agriculture industry is to increase non-sugar export by $100 million.
