• Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment – Hon. Mahendra Reddy;

• Nasinu Town Council CEO – Lute Berends;

• Head of Government Ministries; Representatives of Non-Government Organisations and Civil Societies;

• Representatives from our major Sponsors and Co-sponsors;

• Representatives from the Private Sector

• Farmers from around Fiji;

• Students,Teachers,Parents;

• InvitedGuests;

• Ladies and Gentlemen.

  
  Ni sa Bula Vinaka, Namaste, and a very Good afternoon to you all.

 

It is an honor and a privilege for me to officially address the closing of the 2019 National Agriculture Show here at Valelevu Ground this afternoon.
 

Your presence in large numbers today and in the past two days is indeed an indicative of the important role Agriculture plays in our livelihood especially the socio and economic development of Fiji.
 

Therefore on behalf of Government, first I sincerely express my special gratitude to the Sponsors, Co-sponsors and to the Nasinu Town Council for supporting this National Agriculture Show. Your partnership and cooperation is deeply appreciated. I believe your valuable input has enabled this year’s show a success. We look forward to your continued support and commitment in the future for the development of the agriculture sector in Fiji.
 

I wish to acknowledge the School Head, Teachers and Students for visiting and taking time to learn and know more about agriculture. It is an important career and for sure agriculture can provide security and stability for your future. I take this opportunity to encourage you to participate in the sector and I acknowledge your support. Vinaka vakalevu.

 

To the general public especially all those who visited and participated in this year’s show. I believe the visits has provided the much needed awareness, information and insight about what agriculture is and its importance in Fiji in terms of social, cultural and economic development. I believe its memories are something that you will cherish. So I sincerely thank you for your support and we look forward to assist you during your next visit to our offices and especially next agriculture show in 2020.
 

Last but not least, I wish to sincerely acknowledge all Government Ministries, Officials, the Private Sectors and the Agriculture Show Committee for your commitment and dedication. Your hard work and assistance rendered to curious visitors visiting the show in the last couple of days are kindly acknowledged. Let us continue to serve our people with the best service. Vinaka Vakalevu and Well Done.
 

Ladies and gentlemen, the great interest shown by the people in the last couple of days was evident by the high number of turnout by students and the people themselves who made special trips to be able to “check-out” the latest development, techniques and information not only on agriculture but also on services provided by various Government Ministries and private sectors that were show-cased during the Agriculture Show.
 

Interests varied from the genuine to simple curiosity and many who visited the Show venues expressed sincere acknowledgement to Government’s initiative and support in the development of agriculture in Fiji.
 

Whilst these remarks are encouraging, we should not rest on our laurels. These complimentary remarks should serve to encourage us to better ourselves in whatever aspect of government service that we are engaged in.

For Agriculture, it is important that we remain focused in our vision and mission as simplied by this year’s theme “Agriculture Our Hope, Our Future for a Healthy and Prosperous Fiji”.
 

Ladies and Gentlemen, we can all appreciate that agriculture development is a complex activity that calls for continuing research and development to ensure that one keep abreast of new techniques for better agricultural production and productivity.
 

The 2019 National Agriculture Show has greatly helped us to build bridges towards one another; better understand each other and more importantly to strengthen our partnership for nation building. Government cannot do it alone. This Government needs your support so that we can all move forward together leaving no one behind.
 

I am glad that this Agriculture Show has been a special draw to School children and Women and Youths as well. This augurs well for the future of this Country. They are our farmers of tomorrow. Women have the same right to participate and are encouraged to do so.
 

Also I would urge students and schools to redevelop their curriculum to include agricultural subjects. Students and children should be trained not to be afraid to dirty their hands.
 

Farming, I might add is a time borrowing profession. It is a healthy and rewarding “vocation” although hard but it requires nonetheless commitment, dedication and a love of the sunshine and open spaces.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture is promoting farming as a business; as opposed to farming as a way of life as it is a highly specialized and skillful profession. Modern farmers need proper training, technologies and assistance to appropriately develop the sector. Running a farm as a business requires farmers to be commercial minded and now it is a rewarding career.
 

Ladies and gentlemen, at this juncture it seems fit to highlight the significance of Climate Change and Food Security as Fijian we should all be proud that our Government is in the forefront globally in addressing this global issues and challenges.
 

We speak a lot of the importance of sustainable food systems for healthy lives and we recognize that it all starts with soils the foundation for agriculture. We have our forests a necessity for food, feed, fiber, fuel; host to our biodiversity and are key in the carbon cycle. It plays key roles to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
 

On the hand we have our Marine Resources which we are to ensure it is protected for our future generation. The sea connects us all and is a pathway for our development.
 

It is important that we maintain a safe and clean environment from the mountains to the seas for the betterment of this country now and in the future.

Despite all its importance to our very livelihood, we have not managed it very well and we have seen soil degradation, deforestation, water logging and pollution, and urbanization which cause us to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that contribute to global warming and climate change.
 

We need to put our efforts together to mitigate and adapt to this this issue. We need to continue raising more public awareness; increase organic content of soils; promote crop rotation and diversification; implement effective land use planning; reduce erosion; encourage conservation, promote agroforestry and smart agriculture; stop soil degradation; use nutrients wisely; promote organic agriculture and family farming.
 

We must focus efforts on protecting the environment. We must make every effort to raise its awareness and ensure that it is given due recognition. Let us advocate sustainable agriculture for global food security and nutrition.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, in closing, thank you once again for allowing this opportunity to meet with you and especially your participation in this year’s Show.
 

Again many thanks to all Staff of the various Government Ministries for taking part in this Show. I thank your support and for all your efforts.
 

To the Co-Sponsors, again thank you. Government will continue to develop and provide a conducive business environment for the private sector to grow and expand. Our partnership will continue to be strengthened so that the private sector will drive development in Fiji.
 

To the Nasinu Town Council, thank you for availing this venue for this year’s National Agriculture Show.

To all the people, you have been a wonderful supporters and my warmest thanks to you all.

I wish you all the very best and to your families at home.

 

With those few words, I now declare the 2019 National Agriculture Show here at Valelevu Ground, CLOSED.
 

THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS FIJI.