Fijian Farmers —Growth of Co-operative Movement

IN recent years, marked agricultural progress has been made in Fiji by individual natives with small hold ings. Mostly, these are men who have availed themselves of a clause in the Government Native Regulations which provides exemption from communal ser vices, thereby giving them freedom to undertake farming work with reasonable prospects of success. This is worth noting as an important stage in the development of the country.

Fijians always have been expert gar deners; and now, aided by experience gained at agricultural training centres, many have turned their attention to the cultivation of field crops such as rice, maize, sugar-cane and vegetables, in ad dition to the more familiar garden foods of the native communities.

Official figures show that 97 per cent, of bananas exported from the colony are grown by Fijians. Of equal, if not greater, importance is the fact that native farmers are rapidly becoming interested in the cultivation of a wide range of food and cash crops essential to supply local demands.

Always quick to recognise the value of co-operative effort, neighbouring farmers have formed groups for the purpose of clearing land, planting and harvesting sugar-cane or rice; but, usually, the local marketing of small-holders’ produce is the concern of the individual.

In 1938, however, Fijian farmers of South-east Viti Levu (provinces of Rewa, Tailevu South and Naitasiri) formed an association for the purpose of erecting a central market to distribute their produce.

This was built and opened at Nausori in January, 1940,. by Hon. H. C. Monckton, then Adviser on Native Affairs. The or

ganisation is called the Nausori Co operative Market Association, and its affairs are managed by a committee, the active chairman of which is Manasa B.

Tauca, and the secretary, Jese Gagavoka.

Throughout 1940, the Association made slow but steady development; then war

circumstances brought about a greatly in creased demand for all kinds of vegetables and fruit. The Co-op. Society, with its 1180 members, was excellently placed to meet the demand and, during 194], handled over 250 tons of mixed produce With a daily turnover of anything up to

Group of members and visitors at the recent annual meeting o`f the Nausori Co-operative Market Association. The meeting was opened by Hon. H. W. Jack, OBE, DSc., Director of Agriculture, whose department has been keenly interested in the organisation since its inception.

eight tons of produce, the co-operative system has worked very well, all labour being provided by members who attend each day according to a pre-arranged rota.