New initiative to add value to local produce in Niue

Transcript

The Niue Chamber of Commerce says a new test kitchen is being established to help add value to locally grown produce.

The initiative is being spearheaded by an international organisation for food security, the Food Authority Organisation, and the Niue Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Beverley Tse was in Niue and spoke with the Business Development Manager for the Chamber of Commerce about its efforts to develop small, private business and what role the test kitchen will play.

FELICITY BOLLEN: We have got a number of schemes here to support subsidised workers - that's for Niuean workers into work. So we'll be looking at that and how we can support the sector. And we're working with the department of agriculture and fisheries around the vanilla growers. And we're going to be having a meeting with them very shortly to hear what their issues are and come up with a joint strategic approach to what we can do.

BEVERLEY TSE: You've mentioned there's efforts to add value to the product. Can you explain more about that?

FB: That's the whole purpose of the FAO test kitchen. So at the moment we're producing what you would expect - so coconut oil, vanilla oil, vanilla essence. Some people are putting them into soaps and other beauty products, but we want to look at what else we can do. With a test kitchen we're looking at things like... You'll know about "tuddle chips", so dehydration of existing fruits that we have on the island that are currently rotting on the ground because we can't use them fast enough. So it really is about looking at what we have in the market, what our natural resources are and how we can best use them. And that's just for the local market. So there's huge potential. So our work with the Niue Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. is really important and we're really looking forward to working with them more closely.

BT: Is this test kitchen already operating?

FB: No, it's currently being built, so it should be built by Christmas. The equipment has been ordered and FAO will provide food technology specialists to come over and undertake training for the private sector. So it's a great initiative and we're really looking forward to getting off the ground.

BT: So that operates outside of Niue, but it's deliberately coming in...

FB: Yes. They provide funding all over the world to encourage food security in developing countries.

BT: And will that provide work for locals, as well?

FB: Absolutely, absolutely.

BT: So we're hoping the training will provide transfer of skills to our local people. The Chamber of Commerce will look at what other technical expertise we need to bring up from places like New Zealand and Australia to support the sector. So we can build a whole programme to support the agriculture sector around this test kitchen. It's very exciting. We're very excited about it.