The Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Dr. Mahendra Reddy, together with the European Union (EU) Ambassador for the Pacific and Fiji, Sujiro Seam commissioned the EU-funded Drasa Johnson Vegetable Farmers’ Cooperative Model Farm earlier this week.
The Drasa Model Farm which was supported through an EU funded project titled “Building Community Resilience to Climate Change through Civil Society Action”, was implemented by Dialogue Fiji in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Environment.
Through the project, a Hydroponic system, a Drip Irrigation system and a small nursery have been set up on the Drasa Model Farm to help assist farmers maintain their production during dry weather, and minimise water wastage.
Speaking at the commissioning, Minister Reddy said that with the support from the European Union and Dialogue Fiji, a number of objectives were achieved with regards to agriculture and the improvement of people's livelihoods.
" We are able to get people on the ground to adapt new technology so that we can increase quality and quantity,” Minister Reddy said.
"There is an extent to which we can increase output and productivity with the status quo, beyond that, it requires technological introduction and we have seen this community who have been doing farming for ages, openly, who are willing to adapt this technology of using drip irrigation and hydroponics and greenhouse.
"Sometimes people shy away from adapting new technology and it becomes a daunting challenge for us, policy makers to push boundaries and increase output," added Minister Reddy.
Minister Reddy also highlighted the growth of the sector over the first six months of this year as compared to the same period last year.
"In fact, in 2020 agricultural exports were higher than 2019, in terms of volume by 16%, in terms of value by 24% - a remarkable achievement despite all the challenges we faced last year. This year, during the first six months, our exports increased by 8% compared to the same period last year.
"It is time that we continue to push beyond the existing boundaries and think outside the box and I am urging farmers to look at utilising their resources year-round either through technological introduction or also through crop diversification and crop rotation," he said.
Meanwhile, His Excellency Sujiro Seam said the EU support to the Drasa Cooperative Model Farm was aligned with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Strategic Development Plan, which was aimed at boosting food security and nutrition, diversifying the production of assorted fruits and vegetables, increasing farmers’ household incomes, improving commercial agriculture as well as modernising agriculture and supporting climate-smart agricultural methods.
They have also generated their own seedlings on time during the main season and reduced the cost of procuring seedlings from private nurseries.
These priorities are consistent with the EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy. They contribute to the transition towards more sustainable and resilient food systems, by reducing their environmental footprint while promoting more sustainable and healthy diets. The Drasa Cooperative Model Farm showcases setups and enables practical training for farmers using smart agriculture techniques, which have become necessary in the face of climate change”, Ambassador Seam said while delivering his keynote address in Drasa.
He added that “strengthening adaptation capacities of vulnerable communities as they grapple with the impacts of climate change on soil quality, rainfall, weather patterns and pest infestation is the focus of the Building Community Resilience to Climate Change through Civil Society Action. The Drasa Cooperative Model Farm is a success story of the partnership between the EU, Government and Non-Governmental Organisations”.
The ten members of the Drasa model farm are now actively involved in assorted vegetable farming all year round. Currently, the cooperative continues to supply the Lautoka market and has contractual agreements signed with agro-marketing companies, middlemen and hotels. The cooperative produces assorted fruits and vegetables.
The three-year ‘Building Community Resilience to Climate Change through Civil Society’ project has a budget of €680,000 (nearly FJD 1.7 million). It is funded by the EU and implemented by a consortium of local civil society organisations including Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation, Dialogue Fiji and Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding, which collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Environment.