CLOSE to 300 farmers on Moala Island in Lau have secured new opportunities through food security and income generation with the opening of the new Moala greenhouse and solar system at Naroi Village, the third remote greenhouse installation funded by British American Tobacco (BAT) Fiji.
BAT Fiji general manager Sam Dormor said the initiative was part of the flagship social investment project Grow+, launched in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture in 2022 at a cost of more than $80,000.
“We have been able to distribute vegetable seedlings like tomatoes, eggplants and chillies to farmers,” Mr Dormor said.
“We reached the 500 seedlings mark last year. The aim is to achieve a target of one million seedlings this year.
“Given the remoteness of Moala Island and the inconsistent shipping services, we have had our fair share of challenges but with it, we’re appreciative of the significant impact this will have on Moala.”
Assistant Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna said the support shown by the ministry and BAT would boost productivity on Moala and help villagers live a sustainable life.
“We are grateful to the BAT team for upgrading the lives of Moala villagers with the initiative of setting up a greenhouse and a solar panel,” Mr Tunabuna said.
“The greenhouse costs around $82,000, solar and irrigation included.
“This not only helps those at home, but also the school children who are in boarding school, with their food supply,” Mr Tunabuna said.
