For the banana disease, see Black sigatoka.
Sigatoka is a town in Fiji. It is found on the island of Viti Levu and is situated at the mouth of the Sigatoka River, after which it is named, some 69 kilometers from Nadi. In Fiji's last census (2007) the population of Sigatoka was at 9622.[1] Sigatoka is the principal urban centre for the province of Nadroga-Navosa.
An ornate temple, open to public, built by Hare Krishna devotees dominates the Sigatoka skyline. Major tourist attractions include the Sigatoka Sand Dunes near Kulukulu village two kilometers south of Sigatoka, and the Kula Eco Park, which houses some 500 birds of 100 species from many tropical countries. The town is also the principal centre for Fiji's coastal tourism belt - the Coral Coast - which hosts many of the country's leading hotels and resorts.
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Sigatoka was incorporated as a Town in 1959, and is governed by a 10-member Sigatoka Town Council, elected for a three-year term. At the last municipal elections, held on 22 October 2005, all 10 seats were won by a coalition of the United Fiji Party (SDL) and the National Federation Party (NFP). The new council reelected Ratu Isikeli Tasere as Mayor, a position held for a one-year term, renewable any number of times.
From 1912 to 1923, banana plantations in the Sigatoka Valley suffered severe episodes of a fungal infection known as the Yellow sigatoka disease. The Black sigatoka, an even more ravaging plant disease, was subsequently named so for its relatedness.
The Sigatoka Valley is known for its high production of vegetables, and thus referred to as Fiji's "Salad Bowl".
Sigatoka is also known for many education institutes. It has more than five primary and secondary schools. It has the Sigatoka Methodist Primary School and Sigatoka Methodist Secondary (High) School,Cuvu college,Nadroga-Navosa High School and Andra High School. Majority of the residents in Sigatoka Town would have attended Sigatoka Methodist High School.
Methodist Primary School is one of the largest primary schools in Sigatoka Town. It has more than one thousand students. There is a ratio of sixty two students per one teacher. Students attend primary school from six years of age.
Health:
Sigatoka Town also has one local hospital and several small medical centres.
There are several resorts in sigatoka re: Fiji -an Hotel, outrigger on the lagoon, Warwick hotel, Hideaway hotel, Naviti hotel etc The international headquarters of Pacific Green Industries (Fiji) Limited is located in Sigatoka.
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