PM BAINIMARAMA'S SPEECH AT THE LAUNCHING OF THE SCHOOL FARMING COMPETITION AT SWAMI VIVEKANANDA COLLEGE

-Permanent Secretary for Agriculture
- Permanent Secretary for Forestry
- Representative from Fiji Development Bank
- Distinguished Invited guests
- Divisional Education Officer- West
- Senior Officers and Officials from the Ministry of Education
- School Heads
- Students, Teachers and Parents
 
Thank you for the kind words of welcome accorded to me today. It is indeed a great privilege for me to be invited to join you all here at the launching of the School Farm Competition programme, an initiative budgeted for in the 2019-2020 academic year, coming to life after seven months of planning.

I commend the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Forestry for the inspiration and commitment in supporting our initiative. With these two Ministries on Board I will not be surprised if I see a ‘Tilapia’ farm in my next visit to the competing schools. Agriculture, being the first occupation for mankind embraces the earth and is always an interesting topic for me. I grew up in a small farming community and those were really beautiful childhood days embedded in my memory.

I agree with Peter Maurin, a renowned activist, who said,”It is impossible to have a healthy and sound society without a proper respect for soil.” The topmost learning outcome for this project is respect and understanding for Mother Nature.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future and I’m glad that we in Fiji, being a small island nation, facing a number of resource constraints are doing our bit to uphold it.

We are looking at goal 1, No Poverty, Goal 2, Zero Hunger and Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being.

As the previous, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, I can tell you through the numerous projects I initiated that eradicating poverty is a real challenge for Fiji and this small project today can empower children with the skills to have a better tomorrow.

The major factors behind initiating this competition are;
-Teaching our children these vital entrepreneurial skills
-promoting active holistic lifelong skills learning
-developing a positive attitude towards local and fresh food
-giving them hands on experience

There are huge benefits of teaching agriculture in our schools in Fiji with the fast paced turn agriculture as a whole is taking and the positive response from parents towards (TVET) subjects. Years ago, the target was subsistence farmers but we need to move towards commercial farming. Going forward Fiji is looking to promote organic farming as part of our contribution to rolling back climate change.
 
We need to promote farming as a profession. Yes, it is hard work but it is highly rewarding. It generates a significant income and contributes to our economy.
 
I had the opportunity to officiate last year at a graduation ceremony of farmers in the same community, here at SVC and I’m sure that those farmers who graduated last year are doing really well.

This project ensures our economy grows, that more of our people become job creators and not job seekers.

Agriculture in schools must empower our rural communities as well bring about life-long learning.

A few weeks ago, I was in RKS and I was amazed to see the scope the school has in terms of farming. I have encouraged the school students to be active competitors in this new project which I am personally interested in.
It is envisaged that the School Farming Competition will enhance the need for canteen operators to prepare nutritious balanced meals and boarding schools are able to harvest fresh and nutritious farm produce for children at the hostel to eat a balanced meal.
 
To the selected participating schools, congratulations to the successful school which will be awarded prizes as per result of the assessment from the School Farm Competition Committee.

But let me remind those who will not edge the others that your efforts won’t be wasted at all. You will acquire new skills and immense inner satisfaction when you see tiny seeds transform into green leafy vegetables that will be your reward.

Daniel Webster said, “Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labour of a man. When tillage begins, other arts will follow. The farmers, therefore are the founders of civilization.”

Moreover, we are gathered here today also to mark our bold stand in enhancing the 4 million trees in 4 years initiative which was launched by His Excellency the President Major General Jioji Konusi Konrote on January 8, 2019. Today we shall revisit this commitment as part of our effort to build a greener, more climate resilient and a more beautiful Fiji.

I must commend those schools that have taken on board this initiative and I urge the others to follow suit to show collective effort on the need to protect our forests and grow more trees, thus addressing the effects of climate change.

As such ladies and gentlemen, may I plea to all schools to take ownership of this state commitment and in partnership with the line ministries and organizations that have environment, climate and healthy living at heart, those that go out of their time and effort in safeguarding environment and doing the right thing, taking seriously their lives and livelihood of the future generation and finding the time and space to plant trees. For some individuals and organizations, finding time and space are two hindrances, for schools these are unseen obstacles.

What is stopping you? Go ahead and plant a tree today.
 
Where else can you get your initiative from but the beautiful trees you sit under with your group of friends during lunch break to enjoy your meals? Remember, somebody a decade or two ago, during one of those arbour day celebrations, an event back in the school days I hold very close to my heart, planted a tree then and you benefit from it now. The trees we plant today will become legacies we leave behind for the future generation.

This is selfless action children, a priceless virtue to add to your values bank. A very important part of our inclusive Curriculum is value based learning and I’m happy that this competition will embed a number of those values we seek to see in you. While we see seedlings transform into beautiful trees, simultaneously your inner caterpillars will turn into butterflies.
 
At this point, I sadly share facts I came across while reading about the bushfires our neighboring country, Australia fought for months. 25.5 million acres have burned in Australia, according to Reuters. Forest restoration expert- Sebastian Pfautsch, sadly noted that no amount of reseeding can restore the damage.

Mountain Ash, the world’s tallest flowering trees reach heights of over 90 metres and live hundreds of years, an iconic Australian plant and is an example of irreplaceable loss.
 
The Australian government had a sense of urgency reseeding the forests through helicopters, seeing the need to restore the lost wealth, indeed our Native forests are our wealth. That sense of urgency to restore their forests back to its initial glory caught my attention.
 
When Australia can do it with a disaster of that magnitude, why can’t we in Fiji take our Presidents pledge seriously?

Individual efforts combined shine communities. How can we even forget that every visitor entering the Suva city used to be welcomed by the ‘aroma’ of the Lami rubbish dump releasing all that methane gas for ages, amidst quiet protests but today that gruesome sight is replaced by lush greenery, which is commendable. This has changed the way we welcome visitors to our capital.
Imagine, 1.6 billion people globally fend off forests but an average person plants a grand total of 0 trees in a life time – Nerve wrecking statistics but today we are here to change all that.

Let’s plant more fruit trees that have dual benefit to the environment, users and school ownership. Years later when I drive past SVC to visit my hometown in Ba, I will stop here to pick a few mangoes, as a ride down memory lane.
 
All in all, the ultimate goal of this farming competition and planting trees program is not only the growing of crops and plants but the cultivation, protection and perfection of human beings, of all Fijians and its future generation.
 
Swami Vivekananda said correctly that “education is not only book learning but the training by which the expression of will is brought under control and becomes fruitful.’(Unquote).Today you have all achieved exactly that. Each person is unique and we need to cater for each student’s learning needs.
 
What a beautiful way to be a steward of the environment, carrying out an International cause of curbing climate change and global warming. Our Hon. Prime Minister is at the forefront, fighting climate change and advocating conservation and adaptability. Global warming as cited from the World Meteorological Centre records as the rise in the earth’s surface temperature, that too by 0.7 degrees Celsius. We exhaust fuel and forests every minute to generate 30 billion tonnes of carbon.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, change does not come through signing treaties, attending conferences and analysing statistics but with a conviction and commitment to make a difference. As members of the global family let’s take the bold step of actually planting a tree to make a difference.
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Despite all this massive preparation and launch, if we go home and continue living a normal life this contest will go to a waste. Therefore, before I take my seat, I urge you to take this day seriously and I thank my partner Ministries again.

Before I take my seat I must urge you to take all protective and preventative measures against viral illnesses and infectious diseases. You must practice hygiene and sanitation all the time and prioritize hand washing with soap and water as frequently as possible. I urge you to do a lot of reading on preventative measures and keep up to par with local and International news since reactive measures are very costly to individuals and the nation as a whole.
 
I shall now declare the school farming competition launched and wish all the participating schools all the success.
 
Thank you, Vinaka Vakalevu, Danyavaad and May God Bless Fiji.