ABOUT $40 million worth of rice is imported into Fiji.

While speaking in Nadroga yesterday, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said this equated to 40,000 tonnes of rice. He said Fiji’s demand for rice would continue to increase.

Mr Bainimarama said Fiji’s rice industry had untapped potential that could benefit Fijian farmers.

“Last year, Fiji’s farms produced 5748 tonnes of rice with nearly every grain going to satisfy demand in Fiji.

“Domestic crops only supplied a mere 13 per cent of rice sold in Fiji.

“That remaining 87 per cent, my friends, represents opportunity.

“Due to the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t let opportunities as obvious as rice growing go to waste.”

He said the ‘We Rice Up’ program by the Ministry of Agriculture was an initiative to encourage local farmers to produce rice for local consumption.