Novel ICT Applications for Pacific Agri-Food and Nutritious Systems: Best Practices, Gaps and Opportunities in Fiji

Sharma, B., Izzal Azid, S., Nath R., Kumar K. and Vikrant Sharma S., 2018. Novel ICT Applications for Pacific Agri-Food and Nutritious Systems: Best Practices, Gaps and Opportunities in Fiji. Wageningen: CTA

A study was conducted by a team led by Dr Bibhya Sharma of The University of the South Pacific on ICT tools used by the agricultural sector in Fiji. The seminal aim of the assignment, commissioned under the CTA-led project on Promoting Nutritious Food Systems in the Pacific Islands, is not only to create awareness in the Pacific but also to help farmers and consumers leverage on current and new ICT tools, such as mobile apps, 3D printers and blockchain technology for best results.

At the initial stage, a Fiji wide survey was carried out in various institutions including research institutions, academic organisations, private institutions, mobile service providers, development agencies and the government ministries.

Agriculture still remains one of the major contributors of Fiji’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and heralds a stronghold of its economy. Moreover, agriculture in Fiji continues to grow rapidly with a lot of investments from the Fijian Government and help from outside donors. However, there have been issues such as late harvests, irregular weather pattern, failing yields, reduction in agricultural land areas, poor and late deliveries, and by-product wastage seen as reasons causing a decline in the agricultural sector. These reasons are not new to Fiji, rather they have been in existence for a long period of time now. The decline of the sector which is still contributing so much to the country’s GDP makes a serious case for changes and innovations.