Rotuma poised to help Tuvalu over food security

Transcript

Fiji's farthest-flung island Rotuma is poised to start exporting food and water to Tuvalu and other countries in the northern Pacific.

Rotuma is closer to Tuvalu than to Suva and Hiagi Foraete of the Rotuma Export and Marketing Company says it makes a lot of sense to send the island's wide range of root crops, fruit, vegetables and spring-water further north.

He told Sally Round the 18-hour boat ride would ensure fresh produce to the low-lying atolls, which have limited food-producing potential and suffer in times of drought.

FORAETE: We're looking to extend to Kiribati, touching on Nauru and the Federated States islands up further north.

ROUND: So tell me about Tuvalu and what they need.

FORAETE: Tuvalu is an atoll island, and I believe the island community survives on the importation of food. Their food security will be very much imports. Currently, it's New Zealand, Australia and from Suva. Where we come in, I think we have the advantage of the closeness, which we can sell to them, not only at a low price, but the freshness and the quality of the produce that Tuvalu will get from Rotuma. I believe they are using the Australian currency, which is high in value in relation to the Fijian currency. If we sell to Tuvalu, definitely they're in a position to buy.

ROUND: What other riches does Rotuma have to offer, and what other export markets are you looking at?

FORAETE: The Rotuma spring-water, it's unique. To us, we see it as of equal value - and it's quite a big statement - of equal value to Fiji water, or much better than the Fiji water because of its unique source that we get it from. So Tuvalu is in need of water, not only of food, but of water. Rotuma can offer that. We are also thinking of pearl farming, and this will go beyond Tuvalu and go to a more international market.

ROUND: So a good positive future for Rotuma?

FORAETE: It looks very positive. And, as I said, it's not going to bring to our island community revenues, economic development, but we'll look at the social component of the advantage of this trade and what we are doing. If it rolls on and develops into such a level, our people in Fiji that are struggling to make ends meet might know they have the opportunity to go back to the island and be part of the island community in this development. For Tuvalu, it is a win-win situation. For Rotuma and our people that we would like to bring back, it would be a big win situation for us.

ROUND: Is Rotuma being depopulated?

FORAETE: To some level, yes. Especially when the island cannot offer any opportunities in terms of economic development, for people to stay back and improve their living standards. So they come to Fiji and look for work. They come first to bring their children to school. Now they stay here as employees of companies. But Rotuma, since it is opening up, Form 7 students, this year, will not come to Fiji at an earlier stage. They'll just come for university level. Our parents, the people on the island, will stay on the island. And with these economic opportunities in terms of development and trading, we will have our island being populated again.