Focus on reducing food import bill

A lot of focus is being put to reduce the rising import bill for food as the push continues for people to buy Fiji made products and at the same time increase production in the agricultural sector.

According to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, the import bill for dairy products was $70 million in 2010, potato imports stood at $18.1 million, beef at $17.3 million, sheep imports at $25.6 million and the total import bill for rice was $37.4 million.

The total recorded import bill for food in 2010 was $565 million compared to $394 million in 2007.

It was forecast to reach $624 million last year and $645 million this year.

The confirmed figures for the country's food import bill for last year and this year will be revealed today while we will also find out whether the push for people to buy local products and increase agricultural production is working.

Story by: Vijay Narayan