In the mountainous centre of Viti Levu, a community outreach program led by the President, Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote couldn’t be timelier.
As a champion of combatting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and physical fitness, the Head of State ardently demonstrated the benefits of Fiji’s 4 Million Trees in 4 Years initiative and delivered newly launched backyard gardening kits to spur household vegetable plantations in Nadarivatu and Nadrau.
“Aside from climate change, human activities such as deforestation and large clearings for farming have affected the vegetation distribution of our surroundings,” said Nadrau Primary School head teacher, Salote Natuna.
The high-altitude school was severely impacted by Tropical Cyclone Winston in early 2016 and will be reconstructed via a provision in the new National Budget 2019/2020.
“We appreciate the initiative that it will also impact our lives and our existence together with the future generations.”
For this high-altitude community, the visit by the Fijian President and a large entourage of State House staff and Government officials also coincided with the closing of Early Childhood Education Week.
“You children are the future of leaders of Fiji and if there is anything, I may ask of you- it is that your study hard. Try your best and work hard,” President Konrote urged the school’s 91 students, 15 kindergarteners and four teachers.
Alongside Nadrau Village, the management of Nadrau Primary School were also presented with backyard gardening kits and tools, for their school plantation.
“We are really happy with these because we plant a variety of vegetables and this will further encourage students to carry our backyard gardening,” Ms Natuna said.
Trees were planted at the Nadraivatu District Office, Nadrau Village, Nadrau Nursing Station and Nadrau Primary School, which sit atop the country's highest plateau.
The 4 Million Trees in 4 Years initiative is to help build a greener and more climate resilient Fiji, where the forestry sector is a sustainable source of prosperity for all Fijians.