Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy today announced these new commercial agriculture programmes which were earmarked to drive the sector forward, stating that the programmes were intrinsically linked to the vision of the new agriculture – “Grow Beyond”.

“Through these new programmes, we are setting, brick by brick, the foundations to expand commercial agriculture, help develop more youths, women, households, farmers and landowners as successful agricultural entrepreneurs while at the same time further increase exports, and increase households livelihood, income and quality of life and expand employment opportunities.

Hon. Reddy said the new Intensive Dairy Farms programme was targeted at setting up two intensive dairy farms in the country.

“As part of this programme, the Ministry would provide high yielding Brown Swiss dairy cows, establish pasture and corn, provide start-up supplementary feed for a year and establish fencing to ensure no intrusion of animals that could infect these new breeds with TB and Brucellosis.

Minister Reddy also detailed the requisites to be eligible for the Hydroponics Kits – Nutrient Film Technique project which would include the setting-up of 400 plant size hydroponic systems at the recipient farmer’s field. A total of 20 recipients who are set to benefit from this initiative will each receive a unit worth a value of $5,500.00.

“This new programme will see recipients, who have shown the capability to sustainably operate these systems be awarded the support to venture into hydroponic farming, scalable to bigger capacity overtime. The Ministry will provide the full hydroponic set with required consumables for the first growing cycle,” he said.

He also briefly explained plans to assist an additional 20 farmers through the Covered Greenhouse (Protected Agriculture) programme stating that the Greenhouses would be set up to ensure a consistent and pest free supply of seedlings and vegetables.

Additionally, Hon. Reddy outlined the assistance under the Irrigation Kits programme, as the Ministry would be inviting Expression of Interests for 150 irrigation sets to be distributed to notable drier areas of Fiji for agricultural growth and expansion.

“Each package will be inclusive of irrigation assistance (drip irrigation, in field laterals, sprinklers, water pumps, soaker hose, etc) and interested farmers will be required to contribute 20% of the total cost of the system, whilst the Ministry of Agriculture’s direct contribution will be 80% of the prescribed system.  

Each irrigation kit is estimated to cost around $2,000.

Minister Reddy said under the Fencing Kits programme, 340 livestock farmers would be provided with fencing material in order for them to upscale their livestock farming; “This will be split into 150 kits for beef cattle, 80 kits for goat farmers and 110 for sheep farms.”

Furthermore, Hon. Reddy also announced the Small Farming Equipment Programme, which would incorporate the one third, two third assistance model of government assistance.

“We are looking at assisting 15 farmers. These implements are inclusive of mini-tractors, rotary tillers, front end loader attachments, cutters/shredders, mills and mini-dryers etc,” he said.

“The combined value of machinery that can be bought through this assistance would be at a maximum value of $18,000 per recipient,” he added.

Hon. Reddy also announced the reviewed fruit trees which would be included to the current Orchard Development Programme and highlighted the importance and strategic inclusion of the Farmers Commercial Equity Package and Land Clearing Programme.

The application packages for these programmes will be made available via the Ministry of Agriculture website on www.agriculture.gov.fj and its social media platforms.