The vision by the Macuata Bible School in Naduri to be self-sufficient has been brought closer to reality upon receiving a portable Rice Mill today (10.08.23).
The school, which focuses on Bible studies for youths in the province of Macuata, has also been integrating agriculture training for its students, which apart from vegetables and root crops, has recently included Rice cultivation.
Principal Eliki Vasu said students would be engaged in agriculture every day after school from Monday to Thursday, and Friday has been dedicated to farming.
“We are training them in such a way that when they go out into their communities and into the world, they are equipped with agricultural knowledge as it could be very useful for everyday life,” Rev. Vasu said.
The institution which is working towards its recognition with the Fiji Higher Education Commission, has a plan to groom commercial farmers.
School Board Member Josefa Ratuvou said while introducing other vocational studies would be beneficial to the students, agriculture was their focus because the majority of students were from farming communities.
“We want to move them away from the mentality that agriculture was only for home consumption, but to accept that farming is a source of income,” Mr Ratuvou said.
The Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Assistant Minister Tomasi Tunabuna while handing over the portable rice mill, encouraged the youths to give their all when involved in agriculture because it could provide life-long security for them.
Assistant Minister Tunabuna said passion and commitment towards agriculture was very rewarding, explaining that agriculture was often a back-up plan for youths, when instead it is a main income earner for the country.
Asst. Minister Tunabuna also visited the Natua Extension office in Seaqaqa.