NAVUSO Agricultural Technical Institute recently held its first ever open day, showcasing their work to the general public.
While addressing the students of the institute near Nausori, Ministry of Agriculture’s deputy secretary for corporate services and planning Vatimi Rayalu reminded them that success does not come easily.
He urged the students to always work hard, be honest and make good use of the time while they are at the institute and most important when they leave Navuso.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is looking forward to the students from Navuso to be the replacement farmers in the future, as a way out of the aging farmer population in Fiji.
There are more than eighty (80) students enrolled at the Institute from Stage I to 4 who are involved in different programs up to certificate level. The programs include animal husbandry, crop husbandry, aquaculture, Farm Management, dairy production, poultry production, woodwork, metal work and engineering.
Varayame Natuituba, an agriculture teacher at the institute, said the open day was organised to showcase to the public the lessons learnt by the students.
He said during the open day students were also selling farm produce and furniture that they had produced during their training and all sales went into their individual bank accounts.
Mr Natuituba said they are training students to become better farmers in the sense that they will be better managers of their farm enterprises in the future.
Meanwhile, a Stage 1 student, Rusiate Radike from Daku Village in Tailevu said they were happy to be part of the training at Navuso.
“We are glad to be part of the program and we are learning lots of new things everyday here at Navuso.”
“Currently I am involved in Calf Rearing training and here we are given tips on how to successfully raise calves in the farms. It is vital for me since I come from a dairy farming community therefore I can use this knowledge when I go back from here,” said Rusiate.
Government through the Ministry of Agriculture supports the Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute with financial grants annually.
