Picture: Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy with farmers of Ovalau.

Two farming clusters on the island of Ovalau have pioneered the 'Our Community Agriculture' programme under the Ministry of Agriculture's development strategy to enhance linkages between the tourism sector and local farming communities. 

Duavata Farmers Group from Vuma Village and Natokalau Vegetable Growers from Natokalau Village, Nasinu Ovalau received their offer letters from the Ministry of Agriculture which will enable them to clear 5-acres of their land to be brought under production. 

While officiating at the handing over of the 'Our Community Agriculture', Women in Agriculture and Small Farming Equipment assistance to the recipients last week, Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy said the Ministry was working tirelessly to reduce the country's import bill.

"I am delighted to be here with you today and there is no better place to commence handouts of our Agro-tourism Initiative, then here at Vuma Village, at the centre of Fiji.  

‘Our Community Agriculture (OCA)’ under the Agro-Tourism program targets farming clusters, who are focused on farming on at least 5-acres or more of land to supply to their nearby hotels," said Hon. Reddy. 

He elaborated that following the easing of restrictions and with the subsequent return of tourism, it was prudent that support be provided to villages situated close to hotels to supply fresh produce to these hotels and to foster a beneficial partnership between both parties.

"We will assist the villages around hotels who've gotten the support letter from their neighbouring hotel that they will buy the produce if the villages produce, we will support those villages to prepare their land and we are very pleased today to launch the first set of recipients in Ovalau. 

"The villages whom we are assisting, are going to use up to 5-acres of land or more and we will provide a leverage of $3,000.00 cash assistance which they’ll use to clear and prepare their land and plant their intended crop, and sell it to their nearest hotel," he said.  

"This is the first time the Ministry is rolling out such a program to ensure that we curb the import of fresh produce demanded by our tourism industry, and Ovalau is blessed to start the programme here and I want to congratulate the recipients, you are the pioneer recipients of this programme, our tourism industry programme called ‘Our Community Agriculture’. We want the tourism industry to say that this agriculture is part of our community and we’re going to support the communities where we are located," Minister Reddy added. 

"Currently, Fiji relies largely on imported produce to meet the demand of its tourism sector. This can be attributed to a steady supply, high quality and prices that are sometimes lower than the local produce. 

"However, in 2017, our food import bill was estimated at $79.49million which is a significant cost driver for Fiji’s tourism sector, by channelling resources to grow or produce certain fresh produce items locally, the country can potentially cut down its food import bill by $24.1million," said Minister Reddy. 

Meanwhile, Duavata Farmers Group representative Miriama Ciriwale said that the demand from the local market and neighbouring hotels had increased as of late and the assistance had come at an opportune time. 

“I want to thank the Ministry for this programme because the members of our group is concentrating on growing our farms so we can meet the demand from our market, we’re just glad to have been chosen,” she said. 

Both Duavata Farmers Group and Natokalau Vegetable Growers both will supply to the New Mavida Hotel in Levuka.

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