THE Government is taking all the necessary steps to support and revitalise the agriculture sector, said Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
He told the groundbreaking ceremony of the New Valley processing facility at Naboutini in Sabeto, Nadi yesterday that in the 2024–2025 National Budget, the Government had increased the allocation to the Agriculture Ministry to reflect commitment to the vital sector.
‘We are also investing in the next generation of farmers by expanding training facilities and programs to equip young people with modern agricultural skills — such as initiatives at the Navuso Agriculture Technical Institute and the Tutu Training Centre,” Mr Rabuka said.
“At the same time, we’re strengthening the connection between farmers and markets through improved farm access, land development and better machinery support.”
The Prime Minister said the public-private partnership model was also helping farming clusters and cooperatives share essential equipment like tractors and harvesters “because we believe in empowering farmers to grow more, earn more and work together toward a stronger agricultural economy”.
Mr Rabuka said the days of equipping farmers only with kutari (hoe), selekava (cane knife) and mataiva (fork) and expecting radical changes in farm production were long gone.
“Our forefathers toiled the land with sweat and grit. But today, technology offers us smarter ways to farm — more yield, less cost.”
“Your government wants to see farmers adopt these smart farming techniques.
“We cannot rely on old methods alone. We must adapt and modernise.”
The Prime Minister said there was also a need for a greater focus on research and development, especially in food science and product development, adding that Fiji was blessed with some of the most fertile organic soils and the richest tropical climate in the world.
