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From Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (12 July 2014) Fiji-Tuvalu hold talks about agricultural commodities trade Report by Rita Narayan Talks on the Rotuma – Tuvalu agricultural commodities trade progressed this week as officials from both governments met in Funafuti. Minister for Agriculture, Inia Seruiratu led a delegation of government officials and met with his counterpart and stakeholders from the Tuvalu Government. The visit organized by the Government of Tuvalu allowed Seruiratu and his delegation to meet with Tuvaluan stakeholders on issues pertaining to the Rotuma-Tuvalu agricultural commodities trade. Seruiratu was accompanied by officials and representatives of the Prime Minister's Office, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Agriculture, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Rotuma Export Marketing Company Limited and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. The Minister also paid courtesy calls to the Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Taukelina Finikaso. The delegation returned to Suva on Thursday From Fiji Times Online (9 July 2014) MV Iloilovatu to Rotuma THE government-owned ship MV Iloilovatu will set sail for Rotuma tomorrow, the Ministry of Works said in a statement. The ship was scheduled to sail for Rotuma on Monday, the ministry said. Several attempts to reach Government Shipping Services for a comment regarding the delay proved futile. Questions sent to the ministry's public relations officer Peni Namotu remained unanswered. This newspaper was told that the director Transport Planning Unit, Ministry of Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Lui Naisara whose contact was on the notice, was out of the country. According to the Government Shipping Service website, the MV Iloilovatu is one of 14 vessels in the government fleet. © Fiji Times Ltd. From Fiji Times Online (5 July 2014) AMA to buy nuts by Salaseini Moceiwai This, as the authority has started its virgin coconut oil production in Nausori. Authority sales and marketing manager Alivereti Yaya yesterday said they had started buying coconuts from Yacata Island in Cakaudrove, Moala in Lau and Rotuma. "We have started processing virgin coconut oil and last month, we bought coconuts from farmers in Lau, Cakaudrove and Rotuma," he said. "Our aim is to buy 40,000 coconuts every month at a cost of 40 cents per nut. "So far, we have produced about 220 litres of oil and we are just waiting for the labelling and design works on the products. "Once this is done, the oil will be ready for the market at a reasonable cost. "Right now, we are just targeting our local markets as we are still working on promoting our products overseas. We will soon have a promotional tour to New Zealand and Australia and hopefully, we will extend our markets there." At the same time, Mr Yaya has encouraged coconut farmers to plant and produce more nuts. "Farmers don't have to approach us with their coconuts. Instead, we will go and buy from them. "For us, this is one way of economically empowering the rural people and financially assisting them." © Fiji Times Ltd.
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