THE revival of the cocoa industry to support the launch of Fiji's
first chocolate-making venture is expected to provide a much needed boost to the
development of Tailevu says a group of businessmen in the province.
Joseva Serulagilagi of the Tailevu Cocoa Growers and Producers Co-operative
Association Ltd said the venture would benefit Tailevu, where economic
development has been neglected.
The chocolate venture is in partnership with Swedish non-government
organisation, Cocoa Bello.
At a two-week workshop, an eight-member Swedish delegation taught farmers in
the province about the chocolate manufacturing process from farming to
retailing.
Cocoa Bello chairman Fabian Rimfors said the industry was excepted to
rejuvenate Fijian cocoa cultivation and generate domestic chocolate production
by using existing Fijian resources.
Mr Rimfors said in three years they planned to have a production factory.
"To develop and re-establish the know how of how to process and refine cocoa
beans among Fijian cocoa farmers would contribute to diminishing expenditure by
not buying imported chocolate," he said.
"But above all it would contribute to the production of an organic and more
wholesome high quality chocolate," he said.
Mr Rimfors said the product could be marketed locally to the high number of
tourists who visit Fiji.
"By re-establishing a chocolate culture, and in that way contributing to
boost ecotourism, Fiji could set a good example when it comes to sustainable
deployment of available resources," Mr Rimfors said.
