Fiji's Dairy Industry to Enhance Production Through Incentives and Infrastructure

Fiji Cooperative Dairy Company Ltd is taking significant steps to enhance its milk production capabilities by 2026. Chief Executive Officer Kushmendra Prasad announced that the cooperative will implement a competitive pricing model and performance-based incentives for dairy farmers. This initiative is designed to foster healthy competition and encourage farmers to reinvest in better genetics, feed, and farm systems.

To further support production growth, the cooperative plans to import quality heifers from overseas, a move facilitated by stabilized animal health and disease control measures. This strategy aims to quickly expand production capacity while adhering to strict biosecurity and animal welfare standards.

Infrastructure development is another priority for the cooperative. Investments will focus on improving rural road access, increasing the number of chiller units, and acquiring modern farm machinery. These enhancements are expected to minimize post-harvest losses, improve milk quality, and ensure reliable collection from remote and high-volume farming areas.

In addition to these efforts, the cooperative is promoting model farms to demonstrate best practices in dairy farming. This initiative allows farmers to learn through practical demonstration rather than theory alone. The cooperative anticipates that both bulk suppliers and smallholder farmers will grow, with bulk suppliers targeting a production growth of at least 15%.

Lastly, the cooperative remains committed to strengthening national food security, reducing reliance on imports, and building a resilient and competitive dairy industry.