The Government of Fiji has launched the Fiji Agri-Innovate Competition, positioning agricultural innovation as a key driver of growth for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the wider rural economy.
The national initiative brought together government agencies, development partners, private-sector actors and 12 finalists presenting agribusiness ideas spanning climate-smart production, digital agriculture, circular farming and value-added processing.
Assistant Minister for Commerce and Business Development, Sachida Nand, linked the competition to the broader economic agenda for MSMEs.
"This is a signal of Government's determination to place MSMEs at the centre of Fiji's next phase of inclusive and sustainable growth," Mr Nand said.
"This competition sets a new benchmark for Fiji by bringing together some of the most promising agri-innovators from across our islands under one roof."
Mr Nand said the initiative aligns with Fiji's MSME Strategic Plan, which aims to improve access to finance, skills, market opportunities and coordinated support systems.
He pointed to global shifts in agri-food innovation and the need for locally adapted approaches.
"Around the world, agri-food innovation is reshaping how we grow, process and consume food, with investment increasingly flowing into technologies such as precision agriculture, agricultural biotechnology and circular food systems," Mr Nand said.
"For a small island developing state like Fiji, our challenge is not to copy-and-paste global models, but to adapt them to our realities, our climate vulnerabilities, our geography, our land tenure systems and our community-based way of doing business."
Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Chief Agriculture Economist, Sainiana Kirisitiana, said the competition supports implementation of the Ministry's 10-Year Agriculture Sector Policy.
"Our Sector Policy sets ambitious goals - increasing agricultural productivity, strengthening food and nutrition security, building climate resilience, promoting value addition and agro-processing, and creating viable livelihoods for our people, particularly women, youth, and rural communities," Ms Kirisitiana said.
"It is, in essence, a pipeline for the next generation of agricultural leaders and innovators that our Sector Policy calls for."
The competition operates within the Sustainable Transformation of Fiji's Domestic Agriculture Sector project, which has focused on strengthening institutional capacity, improving market access for smallholder farmers and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.
Ms Kirisitiana said the partnership had delivered tangible outcomes across farming communities.
"Over the past years, this partnership has delivered key outputs that have strengthened the very foundations of our agricultural development agenda," she said.
"The transformation is real, and it is happening."
Participants undertook training in business planning, financial management, marketing, e-commerce and pitching, with access to mentorship and investor networks.
Mr Nand said the ideas presented addressed practical challenges faced by farmers.
"These are not just interesting ideas; they are practical solutions to the everyday challenges our farmers face, and they point to new value chains and export opportunities for Fiji," he said.
"Importantly, this competition is designed not only to give you a platform to pitch, but to link you to incubation support, technology validation, business mentoring and potential investors."
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Assistant Representative for Fiji, Joann Young, said innovation would strengthen national food systems.
"Innovative agribusinesses will drive agrifood systems, the systems that feed all Fijians, to become more resilient and sustainable," she said.
European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, said the competition reflected coordinated support for domestic value chains and enterprise development.
"Our Global Gateway Strategy puts a strong focus on private sector development and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including support to sustainable and innovative agribusinesses," Ms Plinkert said.
"The European Union is proud to support stronger domestic value chains, improved resilience and new opportunities for Fiji's agri-MSMEs."
The competition concluded with three winners — Joeli Waqanivalu of Island Eco-Smart, Subahsni Shobna Lal of Freedom Farm, and Jasnita Reddy Ali of Nature Farm Fresh Supplies — recognised for their contributions to Fiji's agrifood sector.
Organisers said the initiative is designed to connect entrepreneurs to incubation support, technology validation, mentoring and potential investors beyond the awards.
Government and partners described the program as part of a longer-term effort to build higher-value, technology-enabled agribusinesses that generate employment, strengthen rural livelihoods and improve resilience within Fiji's agriculture sector.
