The Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) that trades as Fiji Agromarketing celebrated its 20-year anniversary at its headquarters in Nausori yesterday.
The AMA facilitates the purchase, sale and export of agro and aqua produce to stimulate economic growth within rural, remote and maritime communities that are the most vulnerable in terms of infrastructural support, shipping schedules and connectivity to the outside world.
Viewed as the catalyst to Fiji’s economic growth of the rural and maritime communities, Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways permanent secretary Dr Andrew Tukana said the marketing of its commodities is key to its survival.
“AMA has gone through a lot over the last 20 years. It is important to note that Government was adamant that supporting rural and the maritime communities is critical to Fiji’s development given the fact that other exporters are not keen to move into rural remote areas because of the high costs of transportation,” Dr Tukana said in his address.
He said government had also given AMA a substantial amount of money over the past eight years for its operational and capital costs via the yearly budgetary allocations.
“Twenty years of survival in one of the most challenging economic times of Fiji’s history is not an easy feat. AMA has had its fair share of challenges and it is my hope that it will continue to forge ahead for the next 20 years.”
Today, AMA now has 151 staff; has collection centres in Savusavu, Dama, Sigatoka, Nadi and Lautoka; and its income streams that include two restaurants, a retail outlet, local sales, commercial rent, fish unit and its export market.
AMA chief executive Jone Sovalawa said they operated in a competitive space and called on farmers for their support.
