More than 200 livestock farmers of the upper Sigatoka Valley can now access basic veterinarian services at the Keyasi Government Station, in the highlands of Navosa.

This follows the commissioning of the Vatumali Veterinarian Clinic by the Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy yesterday, bringing these services which was previously only offered in Lawaqa, Sigatoka closer to livestock farmers in the upper valley.

Minister Reddy said the notion behind the setting up of the Vatumali clinic was to ensure that service delivery was maintained.

"We had always intended to bring this service closer to the people of Vatumali, it required a lot of forward planning and resource mobilization and we're glad to finally be able to commission this veterinary clinic here for the people here in the upper Sigatoka Valley.

"We want to continue on this momentum that we've gathered with respect to agriculture expansion and growth and the benefits of this agricultural growth will be witnessed as it cascades down and is distributed towards everyone in the country, so that in the same shift, everyone of us can grow together," he said.

"That's the agricultural development model that we have and in this agricultural equation, livestock will continue to play a very important role," added Hon. Reddy.

He also elaborated that through the delivery of such veterinary services to farmers, it signified the continued emphasis placed on strategies to curb the importation of livestock products into the country for local consumption. 

"We're not just here to commission this veterinary clinic but to also reinforce the production systems in place and to also give you that push and leverage to expand agriculture.

"We have a strategic advantage in terms of our livestock sector and today we are here to commission a livestock clinic so that none of you, if you have any problems with your livestock, have to go down to Sigatoka," said Hon. Reddy.

"The clinic is here, whether it is for a small injury, or castration or if need be, your animal requires surgery, it can be scheduled and will be conducted right here in Vatumali, our Veterinarian will come here to operate on your animals in the shortest time frame possible, at no cost to you," he said.

Meanwhile, Timoci Naivua of Namacawa settlement who was the first client to purchase animal medicine from the clinic expressed his appreciation for the hindsight in bringing this most basic of animal health services closer to the highland farmers of Navosa.

"This has saved me a lot of money, before if I wanted to get medicine for my animals I would have to travel all the way to Sigatoka, this saves me time, energy and money and I am very happy that the Ministry of Agriculture has brought this clinic to us here at Keyasi," said Mr. Naivua.

-Ends-

• ← Go to all Press Releases