FIJI coffee will undergo a revival of sorts with the establishment of Australia’s renowned ONA Coffee in Fiji.
In a statement this week, Investment Fiji said the company has established operations in Fiji, with a focus on developing the country’s emerging coffee industry.
“ONA Coffee’s investment aims to capitalize the potential of wild coffee that grows naturally across Fiji, while delivering socio-economic benefits to local communities through direct farmer partnerships and sustainable practices,” Investment Fiji stated.
“The company is currently sourcing two of the four known coffee species in Fiji, Arabica and Liberica and working closely with 31 farmers in Rakiraki, who have wild coffee growing on their land.
“ONA Coffee is now collaborating with these farmers to purchase coffee beans and its direct procurement model is complemented by their long-term vision to establish a nursery program and distribute one million seedlings a year to support the development over 500 acres of premium coffee plantations across the western region.”
In partnership with the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, ONA Coffee is also identifying additional farms that show potential for coffee cultivation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica said Fiji needed more commercial ventures that link to smallholder farms which in turn generates more economic activity in the rural economy.
Investment Fiji chief executive officer Kamal Chetty said ONA coffee’s initiative represented a transformative opportunity for the local agricultural sector.
“ONA Coffee’s entry into the Fijian market demonstrates how niche, high-value sectors such as coffee can contribute to our broader goals of sustainable development, rural empowerment and agricultural diversification.
“Their approach of working directly with local farmers, investing in processing infrastructure, and hosting events like the Ra Province Specialty Coffee Tour will not only attract international attention but build real, long-term value for our people,” Mr Chetty said welcoming the investors into the country on Monday this week.
ONA coffee has further proposed the establishement of coffee processing facilities in Rakiraki, Taveuni, Savusavu and has identified an island in Volivoli Bay to serve as an operational base for certain aspects of the initiative and a working group has been established to oversee the projects progress in future.
ONA Coffee will be launching a special coffee event this Friday in Rakiraki in conjunction with visiting top coffee executives Sasa Sestic from ONA Coffee Australia, Maheer Prasad from ONA Coffee Fiji, Yannis Apostolopoulos from Specialty Coffee Association, Jason Liew from My Liberica, David Maguta from Maguta Estate, Jamison Savage from Savage Coffees and Hidenori Izaki from Qawha Inc.
The delegation will be part of various site visits in the Ra Province which will also highlight the launch of ONA Coffee (Fiji) Pte Ltd in Fiji.
