February 2018
The PIFON consultancy team for the Coconut Industry Development Project (CIDP) has just recently returned from Rabi, Fiji after undertaking a Virgin Coconut Oil Value Chain Case Study. CIDP is an EU supported project implemented by the Pacific Community through the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Intra ACP programme. Virgin Coconut Oil is an important product for many Pacific Islands and increasingly the domestic market has become very attractive to smaller enterprises. The Value Chain case study of Rabi VCO for the domestic market is aimed to identify opportunities to strengthen the chain and also to draw lessons applicable for other Pacific island VCO producers targeting the domestic markets.
PIFON facilitated the meeting of the CIDP Value Chain Working Group held at the Tanoa Hotel conference room from 11 – 12 December 2017. A purpose of the workshop was to commence analyzing priority coconut value chains and design road maps for their development.
One of the five outcomes that were concluded at the workshop was the endorsement of the products, countries and associated enterprises upon which value chain road maps are to be developed. They are as follows:
- VCO for domestic markets – With the Banaban Co., Rabi case study
- High quality copra oil – With the Chottu & Co., Solomon Islands case study
- Coconut veneer – With the Valebasoga mill, Fiji case study
The purpose of CIDP is to improve the competitiveness of smallholder farmers, that they be more competitive and be able to access and benefit from the market.
An excerpt from the ‘Agricultural Value Chain guide for the Pacific Islands’ that is being used by PIFON in all its Value Chain work
