Close to 50 small-holder farmers were trained in organic agriculture and agroecology at the Navuso Learning Farm Centre last week.

The three-day training aimed to fulfil the primary objective of the Pacific Organic Learning Farms Network (POLFN) project: to familiarise small-holder farmers with both the concept and implementation of organic agriculture and agroecology; and also offer support to convert their farms to organic practices.

“Navuso Organic Learning Farm Centre is not just training farmers, it is also empowering them to choose organic for the better health of our soil and vanua, for the wellbeing of our families and communities,” said Emosi Cagi, Fiji’s in-country coordinator under the POLFN project.

In a statement from the Pacific Community (SPC), farmer participant Isei Tudreu said smart, proactive and sustainable agriculture was “indeed” Fiji’s life support system.

“We were grateful for the talk on soil health and especially on establishing a soil fertility management system through an agroforestry farm set-up,” said Mr Tudreu, who operates an organic farm with his wife Daphne in Sabeto, Nadi.

The SPC stated the training was simultaneously run at the Mudrenacagi Organic Learning Centre in Bua.

POLFN is funded by the Kiwa Initiative and aims to benefit 100 farmers across Fiji.