The agriculture sector’s potential can only be realized if a shared common vision to effectively utilise available re-sources is put into practice.
This was the message by the Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment Dr Mahendra Reddy while handing over 56 fencing material assistance packages to smallholder farmers of Macuata and Bua last week.
Minister Reddy said Fiji imported approximately 85 percent dairy products and was heavily dependent on imported rice to meet local demands, with vast tracts of land remaining idle.
“I urge you all, farmers and land owners, to put your land into good use to raise the agriculture sector to new heights, whereby agriculture can be the defining sector for Fiji’s economy.”
Additionally, Minister Reddy said farmers needed to treat agriculture as a business, and to dismiss the misconception that the Ministry of Agriculture was a lending institution, continuously re-turning to request for more assistance.
“We really need to pull up our socks and utilize our available resources; that is why we are here today to give you that startup capital - the fencing material so that the 10 goats or sheep that you have can develop your paddock and expand your production,” Minister Reddy said.
“We want to thank you for your interest in Agriculture, this year is renowned for livestock farming, Bua is very renowned for livestock farming and we want you to grow and develop. We are here today to give you this assistance,” he reiterated to Bua farmers.
Farmers were advised to use the fencing material in a timely manner to ensure the development of the livestock sector.
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