The Farming Assistance Scheme (FAS) which has been with the Land Resources Planning and Development division of the Department of Agriculture has now been transferred to the Ministry of Provincial Development, Multi-Ethnic Affairs, National Disaster Management and Sugar.
The handing over was carried out on November 10, 2010 by the permanent secretary for agriculture, Mr Mason Smith to Mr Manasa Vaniqi, the provincial development permanent secretary.
Director for LRPD, Osea Bolawaqatabu says that the shift of FAS from the department to its new ministry will mean that recipients of FAS as well as new applicants will have to follow the guidelines that will be set by the Ministry of Provincial Development.
“We will no longer have any part to play in the FAS programme so I advise those who have been assisted and those that will want to apply for assistance to visit the nearest provincial development office for further advice and instructions,” Mr Bolawaqatabu said.
The FAS was introduced to financially assist the incoming landowner farmers who wished to ask for new farms from ex-ALTA tenants.
Outgoing ex-ALTA tenants, who may wish to be resettled, purchase new farms or gain residential leases will also assisted.
Since its inception in 2000, the total number of FAS cases to date is 6297.
“There were a total of 5224 cases that were actually assisted from 2000 to 2010,” Mr Bolawaqatabu said.
“With the shift of FAS to the Ministry of Provincial Development, three units of the LRPD division will now focus more on farm development issues.
“We have the land use section, infrastructural development section as well as the farm management unit that will be fully committed to farmers around the country.
“Our farm management unit has been deployed around the country over the years and has been carrying out various trainings and awareness on farm management practices, especially on running the farm as a business venture,” he added.
“Climate change is also a pressing issue around the world, and safe and viable practices of soil management and the best farming methods are taught by technical officials on the ground.”
Interested farmers and members of the public are encouraged to seek further information or clarification from their office based at the Koronivia Research Station in Nausori on phone 3477044 on the types of services that they provide.