Australian-owned specialty coffee company ONA Coffee (Fiji) wants to develop Fiji’s emerging coffee industry through sustainable partnerships with local farmers and communities.
The company focuses on wild coffee varieties naturally growing in Fiji’s forests, presenting both a unique product and socio-economic opportunities for rural communities.
Since registering in Fiji late last year, ONA Coffee has partnered with 31 farmers in the Ra Province, who have naturally growing wild coffee on their land.
The company is sourcing two out of four coffee species found in Fiji, Arabica and Liberica, with a long-term plan to nurture over 500 acres of premium plantations across the western region.
“Our vision is to empower the people here through coffee,” said ONA Coffee Chief Executive Officer in Fiji, Maheer Prasad.
“Many farmers already have coffee growing wild in their forests. Our job is to help them identify it, pick it at the right time, and provide a reliable income by buying it directly from them. So, when we started in rough, the first thing that we were doing was just trying to get people to be able to identify the coffee as a big step.”
The initiative aims to promote forest conservation alongside economic development.
“Rather than clearing land for traditional farming, farmers practice forest management by maintaining the natural forest environment where wild coffee grows,” said Prasad.
The company’s long-term plan also includes distributing one million seedlings annually to support over 500 acres of premium coffee plantations across western Fiji to create new income streams for rural families and boost local economies.
“This project is a financial reason for people to conserve their forests,” he explained.
“Without the forests, coffee can’t grow. We are showing them that there’s money in these forests.”
ONA Coffee CEO and the 2015 World Barrister Champion, Sasa Sestic shared how the discovery of Fiji’s wild coffee during a family holiday inspired the company’s vision to source unique, sustainably grown coffee with minimal agricultural inputs.
“It’s rare to find coffee that grows naturally in forests without the need for fertilisers and pesticides,” Sestic noted.
He also highlighted Fiji’s accessibility compared to traditional coffee-producing countries, making it a strategic location for expansion.
Investment Fiji CEO Kamal Chetty welcomed the investor’s entry into Fiji, stating that ONA Coffee’s initiative represents a transformative opportunity for the local agriculture sector.
“ONA Coffee’s approach of working directly with local farmers, investing in processing infrastructure, and hosting events like the Ra Province Specialty Coffee Tour will not only attract international attention but build real, long-term value for our people,” stated Chetty.
As part of ongoing efforts, ONA Coffee has been conducting farmer training in Rakiraki, Taveuni and Savusavu, focusing not only on coffee picking but also on sustainable forest management and conservation.
The company has also identified an island in Volivoli Bay to serve as an operational base for certain aspects of the initiative.
“We educate farmers to see coffee as part of the forest ecosystem rather than traditional farm crops,” said Maheer Prasad. “This approach supports both the environment and their livelihoods.”
Speciality Coffee Association CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos praised the initiative’s vision.
He says: “ONA Coffee’s approach of combining sustainable farming with processing infrastructure and community partnerships is exactly what Fiji needs to build a strong coffee culture and attract coffee tourism.”
The company plans to establish coffee processing facilities in Rakiraki, Taveuni, and Savusavu, with a base in Volivoli Bay to oversee operations.
ONA Coffee is working closely with the Ministry of Trade, Agriculture, and iTaukei Affairs to identify new farms suitable for cultivation.
This week, ONA Coffee has brought a delegation to Fiji for a series of events and site visits.
A highlight will be a coffee showcase at DuaDua Beach Resort, Rakiraki on Friday, featuring coffee cupping sessions, product showcases, and the announcement of Fiji’s official Coffee Ambassador.
“Visitors can now see coffee growing right by the roadside, or in beautiful mountain forests they’ve never seen before,” said Prasad.
“This opens up exciting tourism opportunities too, people won’t have to travel hours to experience specialty coffee; it’s right here in Fiji.”