Players in the agricultural industry perform different roles as actors, supporters or enablers but they all share the common values and targets dedicated to growing and developing the sector in Fiji and the Pacific.
“We recognise the importance of agriculture and the role that farmers play in the economy. I know Government is fully committed to ensuring that we farmers receive the support we need to continue growing and thriving as entrepreneurs and partners in agribusiness,” Fiji Crop and Livestock Council (FCLC) chairman Joshua Nalewakalou said at the two-day Farmers Forum that ended in Suva on Thursday.
He said the FCLC had been instrumental in strengthening farmers’ organisations and promoting the registration and profiling of farmers since its establishment in 2013.
He stressed the importance of the farmers’ organisations in promoting agricultural policies, market requirements, and advocating on issues farmers faced.
He said the role farmers organisations played was crucial in ensuring farmers’ concerns were heard and addressed by government and other key stakeholders.
“The Farmers Forum provides the appropriate platform for a coordinated approach by FCLC and our Government ministries and farmers organisations to raise awareness of the policies and regulations governing the agricultural sector to ensure that we farmers comply with them,” Mr Nalewakalou said.
“Also, to provide feedback on the effectiveness of these policies, which can help the Government make informed decisions and improve the policies where necessary.
“Today, we play a vital role in advocating for the issues or challenges we face as farmers. By providing a united voice, we can bring attention to the difficulties we face, such as pests and diseases, climate change, and access to market and finance and infrastructure such as farm access road.”
He said those issues could be addressed by the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders, ensuring farmers received the support they needed on time, and to be successful.
