COST ANALYSIS OF ROOT CROP EXPORTS – FIJI

Fiji has experienced a decline in export volumes of horticultural commodities in the past five years. Exporters consider that this is a result of the high costs incurred in export marketing pathways which have reduced the profitability of exporting compared with domestic marketing. Based on these concerns, the Fiji Market Access Working Group proposed that PHAMA undertake a value-chain analysis for taro and cassava exports. In August 2017, a cost analysis of root crops exports in Fiji was undertaken; involving consultations with several active root crop exporters and the compilation of official statistics on the production and marketing of taro and cassava. The analysis work focused on the two main root crop export pathways: fresh/chilled taro to New Zealand and frozen cassava to Australia. Stakeholders have requested that a similar analysis be done for all current horticultural exports from Fiji.