A SPECIALTY coffee trial farm launched at Ra High School in Ra this week is set to transform agricultural education and economic opportunity in the province.
The initiative is a partnership between Ona Coffee Fiji and the Ra Provincial Council and the management board of Ra High School and is a significant step for the “Ona Fiji Speciality Coffee Initiative,” designed to introduce the global high-value crop of specialty coffee to Fiji and build a fully integrated, sustainable industry from the ground up.
“This is more than just planting trees; it’s about planting futures,” Ona Coffee Fiji chief executive officer Maheer Prasad said in a statement.
“We are not just teaching students how to grow coffee; we are equipping them with the industry savvy know-how to become entrepreneurs, quality controllers and agri-business leaders.
“Our goal is to create a thriving, climate-resilient coffee industry in Ra that benefits everyone, from the youth and farmers to the Land Owning Units (LOUs).”
He said the trial farm, located within the school’s agricultural training area, will be the primary hands-on learning hub for all things coffee with the program uniquely designed to bridge the gap between traditional education and real-world industry needs.
“Ona Coffee Fiji will provide the infrastructure and investment for the Ra High School Speciality coffee farm to establish a fully productive school run enterprise.
“The initiative will see world-leading specialty coffee experts from the Ona global network imparting their knowledge directly to vocational students.”
Chairman of the Ra Provincial Council Kiniviliame Salabogi said the Council fully supported the project.
“This initiative represents a perfect synergy of education, economic development, and environmental stewardship,” he said.
“It provides a tangible pathway for our youth to build prosperous careers here in Ra while also creating a new, sustainable source of income for our landowners and farmers.”
The curriculum offers experience-based training in:
– Advanced agronomy: Cultivating high-quality coffee under Fiji’s specific climatic conditions.
– Post-harvest processing: Mastering the techniques that define specialty coffee flavours.
– Quality control and cupping: Developing the skills to grade and assess coffee to international standards.
– Supply chain and business management: Understanding the pathway from farm to global market.
The project is the first of its kind in Fiji and celebrates the designation of Ra as Fiji’s Coffee Province by the Ministry of Agriculture.
