Fiji's first mini flour mill will be opening in the coming months in Naitasiri's Nasalia Village.

Nasalia Development Committee Chairman Inoke Masau said the equipment for the mill will be arriving in the country before next month and the villagers are working with the Ministry of Women and Ministry of Agriculture to get the equipment across to the village.

Two of the Nasalia villagers, one women and one youth were sent to Indonesia and have been trained on using the machinery and operating the flour mill.

The flour will be made by processing locally made products like banana, cassava and breadfruits.

“We have also got the Department of Cooperative that is training the Nasalia Women’s Groups about financial literacy and running a business," Masau said.  

 He said the Nasalia Women’s Resource Centre will be further extended by the government to make room for the Mini Flour Mill.

“A plan has been drawn by Commissioner Central and work will soon start to extend the centre and design it into a mill. And we are also working together with the Ministry of Youth whereby the youths and farmers in Nasalia are planting products like banana, cassava and breadfruit.

Once the mill starts operation, it will improve the lives of 300 people in Nasalia and the project starts it will increase the economic power of the farmers and create positive changes for their families.

Women will also acquire skills of becoming successful women entrepreneurs and contribute effectively towards the wellbeing of their families.

By Reginald Chandar