The Agriculture Ministry welcomes any plan to set up another High Temperature Forced Air facility in the country.
At the moment, there is only one such facility in Fiji based at the Natures Way Cooperative Limited in Nadi.
The lone High Temperature Forced Air Facility located in Nadi is being used to quarantine papaya.
It involves slowly heating the fruit for five to six hours to a temperature of 47.2 degrees Celsius – enough to kill fruit fly, larvae and eggs.
Speaking to FBC News Agriculture Minister Inia Seruiratu says they welcome any moves to have another such facility in the country.
“We in the Agriculture Ministry have one facility based in Koronivia but that is for research purposes however we do appreciate if there are plans to have more facilities as it gives farmers options and gives us an opportunity to maximize the potential in the agriculture sector.”
Minister for Public Enterprise Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says there’s no competition with Natures Way Cooperative as it’s the only entity that provides this treatment.
He adds the government is looking at opportunities to have another supplier in the country.
