The Agriculture Ministry hopes to rake in over $36 million in export earnings this year.

The Ministry through its capital projects is committed to helping farmers to produce crop commodities for both local and overseas markets.

According to the Ministry, Fiji is one of the main suppliers of tropical food and food products to Australia behind Asian countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The Ministry said the main commodities exported to Australia include, vegetable products, animal and vegetable oil, prepared food stuff, live animals and animal products.

In terms of Trade with Australia, the Agriculture Ministry welcomes the effort by the Fiji Trades Investment Bureau to invite and organize a meeting between traders and buyers of local produce, which farmers will equally appreciate, provided all efforts are geared at expanding the current market share for each commodity.

Meanwhile, statistics obtained from the Bureau of Statistics from January to August shows over $110 million worth of live animals and animal products, close to $40 million of vegetable products and animal or vegetable oil of fats worth $5.9 million were exported.

Statistics show increase in export earnings since 2006.