Fiji Food Front

Report of Director of Agriculture

IN his annual report for the year 1942, Dr. H. W. Jack, Director of Agri culture in Fiji, stated that established agricultural industries such as sugar, copra, bananas and pineapples, had suffered severely under war conditions because of labour shortages, increased costs, shortage of tools, and transport difficulties. But notwithstanding diffi culties, the production of staple annual food crops had greatly increased. Over ten million pounds weight of vegetables had been officially supplied to the mili tary forces, who, however, consumed very much more in hotels, restaurants and private homes.

The position with regard to chief export crops in 1942 was as follows: — (It is not quite clear from the pub lished report whether the figures are for the financial year—July, 1941, to June, 1942—0 r for the calendar year 1942. The latter may be assumed. —Ed. “PIM.”) Sugar.—Labour and shipping difficul ties resulted in delays in crushing, and as a direct outcome of war conditions, a considerable reduction in the crop for 1943 is anticipated. The CSR Co. for the period July, 1941, to June, 1942, crop ped 52,879 acres, crushed 1,070,488 tons of cane, exported 90,778 tons of sugar.

Copra.—Exports amounted to 16,861 tons, valued at £252,544. Increased prices following the extension of the war to the Pacific, provided a stimulus to pro duction, the local buying price rose from £6/10/- to £l6 for plantation grade.

Before the close of the year a down ward tendency in production was evident, due to shortage and rising costs of labour and materials, and exports were only 2,000 tons over the 1941 figure.

The local purchase and export of copra

was taken over by the Government as from February 18.

A good price was offered for coconut shell charcoal, and the CSR Co. made kilns available-,- but production remained low owing to shortage of labour.

Bananas. —Exports amounted to 91,673 cases, valued at £42,400 —double the 1941 export in volume; 95 per cent, of the fruit was grown by Fijians.

Pineapples.—Labour and other diffi culties greatly restricted operations. Local demand for fresh and canned fruit and for juice provided an outlet for a good proportion of the crop, but much fruit was lost in the field, on account of labour shortage.

Citrus.—There was a bumper crop fol lowing the loss of crop in the hurricane of 1941. The export market was closed and an estimated surplus of 3,000 cases over local consumption could not be utilised.

Cotton.—No seed was issued and the ginneries did not operate. As the supply of kapok is cut off, it may be necessary to plant cotton again shortly in limited areas.

Rubber.—Estates that had been out of production for many years were opened up under the stimulus of rising prices.

Exports totalled 208,685 lb., valued at £20,000.

MOST crops grown for local consump tion showed a considerable increase under the stimulus of increased demand from the military forces and because of restricted imports. There was an extension in the acreage planted in rice, maize, groundnuts and pulses; dalo, tapioca and sweet potatoes were adequate for the needs of the armed forces and the public; an increased quantity of coffee was delivered for local consump tion, but tea production was maintained with difficulty, owing to labour short ages.

With regard to meat production, it was stated that owing to the greatly increased demand for beef, difficulty was experi enced by the butchering trade in obtain ing sufficient supplies. It was found necessary to search much further afield to obtain beef supplies for the Suva mar ket and greatly increased prices were paid to cattle-raisers. Slaughter had to be restricted in order to conserve sup plies as much as possible. Because of the increased prices being paid for cattle, beef production was more profitable to producers than formerly. The production of pigs for pork increased materially but demand was still far in excess of supplies.

Poultry supplies also dwindled some what during the year because of the heavy demand and because of difficulty in securing suitable food. The demand for breeding stock was heavy.

The following numbers of animals were slaughtered in registered slaughter houses: Cattle, 8,051; pigs, 2,571; and sheep, 112. 9,077 hides were exported, valued at £10,465.

Sub-Lieutenant A. M. Andresen, RANVR (formerly of British Solomon Islands) spent a few weeks’ leave in Aus tralia in November and December. He, with Messrs, McFarlane, Ken Hay, and F. M. Campbell, was gold-mining high up on Guadalcanal when the Japanese came into the Pacific; and they had a “dress circle seat” at the opening of the battles of the Coral Sea (early May, 1942) and Guadalcanal (August, 1942).

Then they all joined the armed forces, and subsequently saw much service, as the Americans drove the Japs out of the Solomons.

Colonel Benoit-Guyod has been ap pointed commandant superieur of French troops in New Caledonia. He is expected to arrive in Noumea shortly, from Africa.