FISOFA

Who We Are

About FISOFA

FISOFA stands for Farmers Initiative for Sustainable Organic Forestry and Agriculture. It is a Fiji-based platform for sustainable rural development, focused on organic agriculture, agroforestry, native reforestation, farmer training, value-added production, and traceable supply chains.

Our story

Fiji has strong rural farming traditions, fertile land, valuable crops, native forest resources, and significant potential for premium agricultural and forest-based products. Yet many rural communities face challenges around market access, technical support, processing capacity, land-use planning, and long-term supply-chain development.

FISOFA was created to help bridge that gap — combining practical field work with modern planning tools, training, community partnerships, and value-added market development.

Our mission

To strengthen rural livelihoods in Fiji by developing sustainable organic agroforestry systems, restoring native landscapes, training farmers, and building traceable value-added supply chains that create long-term economic, environmental, and social value.

Our vision

A Fiji where farming communities prosper from healthy soils, productive agroforestry systems, restored native forests, protected watersheds, and fair access to premium markets.

Our values

  • Practical action — FISOFA focuses on real farms, real communities, and measurable outcomes.
  • Respect for land and people — We work with farmers, landowning communities, and local partners in a spirit of respect, transparency, and long-term cooperation.
  • Sustainability — We promote farming and forestry systems that protect soil, water, biodiversity, and future generations.
  • Traceability and accountability — We build transparent systems where land-use decisions, tree planting, harvests, and supply chains can be documented and verified.
  • Value creation — We support rural communities to move from raw commodity supply toward higher-value products, processing, and market access.

    • Governance and Board of Directors

      FISOFA is governed by a board of seven directors, who are also the founding members of the initiative. The board brings together expertise in agroforestry, project management, iTaukei affairs, land-mapping technology, farming, product development, and tourism — rooted in the Taveuni community.

      Robert Glowatzki — President and Founding Director · Yanuyanu Pte Ltd. Expertise in integrated agroforestry systems and value-adding supply-chain development.

      Noleen Billings — Secretary to the Board and Founding Director · Noleen's Project Management Consultancy. Expertise in project management and community advocacy.

      Uma Sapra — Treasurer and Founding Director · Haridaya Ent. Pte Ltd. A long-standing member of the Taveuni farming community and formerly among Fiji's leading kava exporters, now transitioning to integrated agroforestry.

      Iowane Raturaga — Founding Director, iTaukei Affairs. From Somosomo, with a career in the national security field (Police). His role is to ground FISOFA within the Vanua.

      Maxim Chervyakov — Founding Director · Northern Frontiers Pte Ltd. Remote aerial sensing, mapping, digital systems, analysis and traceability technology.

      Lucilla Chiericati — Founding Director · Yanuyanu Pte Ltd. Expertise in product development, nursery management, plant health, and animal husbandry.

      President of the Taveuni Tourism Association (ex-officio) — currently Leba Pareti, Garden Island Resort. Linking FISOFA's work to Taveuni's tourism sector and agro-tourism potential.

      FISOFA is structured to operate as a transparent, professionally managed, not-for-profit initiative supporting rural development, organic agriculture, sustainable forestry, and community-based value creation in Fiji.