WOMEN farmers have made a significant contribution to total agricultural output, with the 2020 census report estimating that contribution at $57.9million, according to Women, Children and Social Protection Minister Sashi Kiran.
She told the National Farmers Awards ceremony in Nadi recently the Government was ambitious to grow those numbers to promote women’s empowerment through policies and programs through a partnership with the Agriculture and Waterways Ministry,
Ms Kiran commended the ministry for its Non-Sugar Agriculture Crop Policy, which aimed to increase non-sugar agriculture’s contribution to the GDP while also improving small-scale farmers’ incomes, strengthening climate resilience, and ensuring food security.
“To help break the barriers women face to fully participate in our economy, our ministry has led the development of Fiji Women’s Economic Empowerment National Action Plan,” she said.
The minister said this was a whole-of-government effort and the Agriculture Ministry played a key role in pushing this plan through.
“Both our ministries are working together to ensure at least 40 per cent of women can participate in the Commercial Agriculture Development Program.
“This means providing women with the tools of trade they need, whether it be nursery materials, modern machinery, technology, training and access to markets.”
Ms Kiran said existing innovations could help with irrigation, crop and pest management.
“We will support the digitisation of agricultural value chains, making it easier for women farmers – especially in remote, rural and maritime areas – to access markets, use financial services, and make safe payments through any mobile platforms.
“We will work with partners to advocate, develop, endorse and implement a Gender-Responsive Climate-Smart Agriculture Policy.”
—
Note: This article was first published under the headline: Women farmers contribute $59.9m in Page13 of the print version of The Fiji Times dated Wednesday September 24, 2025
