ICA-MAFF (Government of Japan) Training Follow-up in Fiji
The training courses funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of the Government of Japan, have a significant component of follow-up with ex-participants through visits and surveys. It provides an overview of the participants’ progress in implementing their action plans, highlights the challenges they have faced, and offers insights to plan future activities.
For FY 2024 follow-up, Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP along with the team from the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA) visited Fiji in March 2025.
Cooperatives were formally introduced in Fiji in 1947 under British colonial rule through the Cooperative Societies Ordinance. From the outset, the principles and values of cooperatives—self-help, mutual responsibility, and equity—resonated strongly with Fijian cultural values, particularly the traditional emphasis on community, solidarity, and collective work.
The cooperative movement flourished through the decades, especially during the post-independence period, with strong participation in agriculture and rural economies. However, by the 1980s, a combination of weak governance, limited political will, and lack of institutional support led to the decline and collapse of many cooperatives.
Today, cooperatives in Fiji are experiencing a renewed focus, driven by the government’s recognition of their potential in rural development and inclusive economic growth. The Department of Cooperative Business (DCB), situated within the Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, SMEs and Communications (MTCSME), is leading efforts to rebuild and expand the cooperative sector.
As of 2024, Fiji has 715 registered cooperatives, approximately 40,000 members with total assets of FJD 151 million and a presence in all geographical regions. Predominantly agriculture-based, with a growing presence in sectors such as wholesale, banking, real estate, industry, and tourism.
The action plans developed by the participants showed that they are acutely aware of the country’s fragile ecosystem and the unique challenges it faces as a Pacific Island nation—geographically isolated, with a small population, limited production capacity, and a high reliance on imports. Agricultural activity sees minimal value addition, which constrains both economic growth and food security. In response to these challenges, there is a growing national emphasis on decarbonization and building resilience through innovation and sustainable practices.
The DCB is committed to aligning its agricultural development strategies with these national priorities. As it supports cooperative-led agricultural initiatives, it aims to promote environmentally conscious practices, encourage local value addition, and enhance self-reliance.
In a meeting, with the MAFF, IDACA, ICA-AP team, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for MCTSMEs, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, emphasized the critical role cooperatives play in Fiji’s economic development, especially in rural and underserved communities. He reiterated the government’s commitment to:
During the visit to Fiji, Mr. Iyer and the IDACA team engaged with the four participants and visited several sites where their action plans have been put into practice. Each participant has made progress in implementing their plans, which are currently at varying stages of development. While some were able to roll out their initiatives in the originally identified locations, others had to implement them in new areas due to local dynamics or logistical considerations.
A key focus across the implemented plans has been the formation and expansion of cooperatives. The primary motivation behind this push was to enable cooperative members to access funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, which offers a support scheme consisting of a two-thirds grant and one-third capital contribution. This funding is typically used for the acquisition of agricultural machinery such as tractors or diggers.
Members of the cooperatives pooled their financial and land resources—either leasing land or utilizing freehold property—to initiate farming projects. These machines were used to prepare land for cultivating crops like taro, cassava, and rice.
The DCB’s plan is to further strengthen and develop these cooperatives by offering financial assistance through the Cooperative Development Fund (CDF). Once the cooperatives are operating efficiently and sustainably, DCB aims to support them in scaling up by focusing on areas such as market access, aggregation of production, and the broader development of a resilient cooperative ecosystem.
