THE copra industry is here to stay, says Savusavu businessman and copra farmer Clarence Lepper.
Mr Lepper said although the interest in copra farming had dropped compared with two decades ago, he believed the industry would remain as many families depended on it. However, he said farmers of today faced more challenges than those of two or three decades ago.
“The fuel cost being so high over the past years really affected farmers especially in transporting copra to the mill in Savusavu,” he said.
“Although the mill provides trucks to collect the copra from villages, there are some who like to transport it to the mill on different days so the fuel prices comes in here. “But it’s good that Coconut Millers of Fiji have done a great job in producing more products from coconuts.”
Mr Lepper, also a company board director, said they were looking into manufacturing products from coconuts shells and the fibre as well.
“Once this happens, it will be good for farmers and their families.”
