A partnership between a small Fijian-based business and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus Program (PHAMA Plus) will see the business strengthen the quality and standards of its products.
Vegan and dairy free ice-cream production business – Marama Niu – was founded by Kylie Daunoco and Jojina Ah Yuk in 2020.
As part of the partnership PHAMA Plus, supported by Australia and New Zealand, will support Marama Niu to strengthen the quality and standards of its coconut nectar products by improving bottling, storing and transportation of the coconut nectar from supplier to Marama Niu.
Ms Daunoco said they worked with women and small businesses from the community and one of their major partners and suppliers for their coconut nectar was the women’s group from Rabi Island.
“For Marama Niu we source our coconut nectar from women suppliers on Rabi.”
The women and now men from Rabi are now part of the supply chain – extracting the coconut nectar from the coconut supplying them to Marama Niu.
According to Ms Daunoco their coconut nectar products were selling faster than they could produce more.
Meanwhile this week also marks one year since Marama Niu launched their new coconut ice-cream and they have further plans to launch a new flavour this year.
Banaban Virgin Coconut Oil Facility manager Terikano Takesau said they were grateful for this collaboration with Marama Niu and now the partnership with PHAMA Plus.
Ms Takesau said the partnership with Marama Niu for the coconut nectar had revived their tradition of extracting the nectar and it had also encouraged the women and men on the island to be part of the initiative.
According to PHAMA Plus this partnership will also support and improve Rabi’s community ownership and income generation around coconut syrup.
