Bigger returns for farmers through cooperatives

Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica has highlighted a persistent issue in Fiji's agricultural sector: farmers often do not receive equitable compensation for their hard work. He observed that even before sunrise, farmers are diligently tending to their crops and livestock, which are eventually supplied to both local and international markets. Despite their efforts, the value generated by their produce does not always translate into fair returns for them. Kamikamica proposes that the formation of cooperatives could be a transformative solution to this problem. He believes that by working collectively through cooperatives, farmers can achieve better bargaining power and ensure a more just distribution of the profits. This initiative aims to empower agricultural producers and ensure they benefit more directly from the value they create, fostering greater economic stability within farming communities across Fiji.

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the people doing the hard work are not always getting a fair share of the value their produce creates.