BONGO chilli farming is fast becoming a lucrative business venture in the highlands of Sigatoka, says Orisi Kubunadakai of Nabutautau village, Sigatoka.
Mr Kubunadakai delivered his oral submission at the National Budget consultations on April 23 at the Lautoka Girmit Centre.
He spoke as a representative of the seven highland districts covering almost 50 villages with almost 500 farmers in Sigatoka.
“We come from the most remote areas in Fiji. For many of us, the cost of transporting our produce from our villages to the nearest town makes commercial farming almost impossible,” he said.
“As a result, most of our people rely solely on subsistence farming just to feed their own families.”
Mr Kubunadakai said the Sabeto-based company, New Valley Processes, has worked closely with his community for the past five years, helping address urgent needs by bringing the market closer to its people.
“One of the recent key ventures has been the farming of bongo chilies. Because of our rugged terrain, Bongo chilies are an ideal crop.
“It’s light, easy to carry, suited to our landscape.”
Mr Kubunadakai said more than 2000 women in the highland communities he represented are now actively involved in the farming of bongo chilies.
“Through the support of New Valley, along with partners such as IFAD and PCPF, we have received valuable assistance in the production.
“However, we now need to go further. “I respectfully seek your government’s support in helping us to process these chilies in high-value products such as chili pickles, chili paste and chili sauces.”
Mr Kubunadakai said this will increase the income for farmers and create weekly, consistent cash flow that families can rely on.
I wish to strongly support the call for building aggregation centres in the highlands.
“This will help us store chilies properly, maintain freshness and quality and ensure our produce meets the standards required for processing and exports.”
Mr Kubunadakai said support for research and development, particularly in the areas of food technology and product development, is needed by his community.
This will help our exporters and processes to improve the quality, the taste and the shelf life in the marketability of our finished products, both local and international.
“We are not asking for handouts, we are asking for partnerships for the tools, infrastructure and technical support that will help turn our hard work into real economic opportunities.”
Finance Minister Biman Prasad said bongo chilies are high-value products.
“I can promise you that we will try and focus on how best we can help,” he said.
“We’re actually going big on commercial agriculture, and it’s so heartening to see people like yourself getting into it, and I’d personally like to give you as much support as possible.”
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated May 24, 2025
