By Josefa Uluilakeba
A farmers group in Nasarawaqa, Bua have praised the assistance by the Government which has in turn boosted production on their sugarcane farm.
Recognised as 'Gang 61' in the Bulivou Sector of Seaqaqa, this group holds official registration as the Nukusolevu Farmers’ Cooperative Limited with the Department of Cooperatives under the Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications.
They are part of the Joint Venture (JV) programme initiated by the Fiji Sugar Corporation and the Ministry of Sugar. It aims to increase sugarcane production.
In the last financial year, they received valuable support in the form of a Massey Ferguson tractor, which contributes to their ongoing agricultural endeavours.
The tractor with an overall valuation of $77,080 was co-funded with Government investing two-thirds of this amount, totalling $51,386.66, while the cooperative contributed one-third, equating to $25,693.
The support was facilitated through the Integrated Human Resource Development Programme (IHRDP).
Primarily focusing on income generation through utilisation of idle land, the Nukusolevu Co-operative have developed 103 hectares of vacant land by using sustainable agricultural practices, to integrate sugarcane and a variety of other cropping systems.
Overall, the cooperative aims to reap similar added benefits through this existing joint venture with Fiji Sugar Corporation to generate income and develop rural livelihoods in a sustainable approach to create a positive change.
Nonetheless, the group have attributed their ongoing success to the tractor which was handed over by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica last year.
From their generated income, the Nukusolevu Farmers’ Cooperative Limited are able to meet their traditional obligations, pay their Mataqali members who work on their farm and lately have built an office on their farm.
The IHRDP aims to promote national unity and foster a just and fair society by providing equal opportunities that contribute to the nation’s stability, peace, and security.
The programme seeks to create employment through a holistic approach that combines efforts from the public, private, and civil society sectors to reduce poverty and emphasises pro-growth and support policies to positively impact supply chains by generating wealth, creating jobs and stimulating economic activity.