SUVA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Fiji is stepping up efforts to expand hydroponics and protected agriculture as part of a broader push to increase year-round vegetable production, reduce reliance on food imports and strengthen national food security.
Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Tomasi Tunabuna said controlled-environment farming could help farmers maintain a more stable supply of vegetables when seasonal conditions affect conventional production, reported local news on Wednesday.
Protected agriculture, including greenhouse and other controlled growing systems, can allow farmers to better manage temperature, moisture, pests and other growing conditions, while hydroponic systems enable crops to be cultivated without conventional soil-based production.
The approaches are particularly relevant to Fiji's efforts to maintain vegetable supplies during periods when adverse weather or seasonal conditions disrupt production.
Tunabuna said more consistent domestic production would benefit not only local consumers but also Fiji's tourism industry, which depends on a reliable supply of fresh produce.
Fiji continues to rely significantly on imported food and other agricultural products.
According to the minister, the country imported about 1.1 billion U.S. dollars' worth of agricultural goods last year, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing efforts to increase domestic supply. ■
