Forming youth-led commercial agriculture ventures is key to the development of rural iTaukei village communities, particularly taking into regard the agricultural aspect of village development plans.

Additionally, the support of the Vanua towards youth-led commercial agriculture ventures is crucial to the success of the commercial agriculture-oriented business model as the slow rate at which rural and maritime communities were developing needed addressing.

This call was made by Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy to villagers of Uto, Waqadra, Vunamoli, Nawaqadamu and Logi while handing over small nursery equipment, organic fertilizer and dalo and coconut planting materials to each of the five villages recently.

Hon. Reddy said it was an opportune time for the villages to enable this youth agricultural model to thrive to drive rural development.

“Each village needs to establish a youth commercial agriculture unit which will drive commercial agriculture in your villages.

“I see that this is an opportunity which you should grab, there is a lot of potential in this area, this place has been behind in terms of growth and development and I look forward to discussing with you areas to develop the agriculture aspect of your villages,” said Minister Reddy.

“I want you to encourage commercial farming and to go big-time into commercial farming, only then can you can grow but if you continue to only practice a little subsistence farming or semi-subsistence farming and have the leftover sold at the market I don’t think you can grow,” he added.

Hon. Reddy stressed that it was their responsibility to ensure their future generations enjoyed a better quality of living, access to improved basic amenities and quality education which could be achieved if they put their resources to good use.

“We’re here to tell you that we will support you, but we just need that level of commitment from you and I am banking on the leadership of the villages and the middle tier and youths to push commercial agriculture, I think there’s an extent to which we can push growth but the rest is in your hands and to demonstrate this support, these items delivered here should be a testimony of our commitment, but the rest falls on you,” said Minister Reddy.

Meanwhile, Atunaisa Raituku of Uto Village said the assistance delivered by the Ministry would help to elevate the standard of living within their district and villages, adding that the call to action for young able farmers was prudent.

“I thank the Ministry of Agriculture for taking their time out to come all this way to us to hand over the packages, I believe that it will boost our farming and in turn our lives because a majority of us here rely on agriculture.”

“Using the land and taking up agriculture is a good option because there is little to be gained from going to urban areas, our youth can make a living for themselves here in the village and I am thankful that we are kept in mind when services like this are delivered to us,” said Atunaisa.

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