SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Daily Post, Nov. 3) – There has been increasing export demand for eggplants, according to Nature’s Way Cooperative Limited, the largest exporter of the product.
Figures provided by the company showed that last year 436.5 tonnes of eggplants were exported, an increase of 3 per cent from the 423.7 tonnes exported in 2005.
And the Ministry of Agriculture is urging vegetable farmers not to miss this opportunity by planting more for exports.
Company managing director, Sant Kumar said the current supply of eggplant was quite good when compared to the last few months.
"Currently we are exporting 12 to 15 tonnes of eggplant a week to New Zealand," Kumar said.
"In July we exported 26,369 kilogrammes, and in August exports increased to 45,891 kg and in the last month it increased further to 52,322kg," he added.
Kumar said farmers should supply quality export varieties of eggplants.
"Long purple, Chahat, and round eggplants are...