50 women of Navuakece district in Naitasiri participated in a 3-day Flower Arrangement Training conducted by the Farm Management team of the Ministry of Agriculture held at the Veikau Lodge in Nawaqabena recently.

Acting Roko Tui Naitasiri Valetino Seruitukana while closing the Flower Arrangement training thanked the participants for their interest to participate in the training. 

The women were reminded on the three fundamental principles: Planning, Action and Consistency on Floriculture and Flower Arrangements for sustainable livelihood in Naitasiri.

“Be role models to other women and empower them on the benefits of planting flowers and flower arrangements, carry what you have learnt to those that are not present to assist in elevating the standard of other women in your area,” he said.

“Women play multiple roles in a family and flower arrangements will also reflect the tender touch of a women and through the training and your consistency in applying what has been learnt, Navuakece can be known for producing exclusive flowers and flower arrangements apart from the normal agriculture practice.”

“The land can also be used for floriculture and with resources that are available around us, it is vital that you make use of it for flower arrangement and other floriculture practices.” 

Senior Agriculture Officer (Farm Management) Naomi Naiqumu said the training was organized to empower women in rural areas become agents of change in their communities through floriculture.

“The ladies have been supplying the Nausori and Suva Flower market with leaves and cut flowers for flower arrangements, there are flower people and there are people who own flowers,” she said.

Apart from assisting their husbands on the crop and livestock farm in the province of Naitasiri, floriculture could be another means of income for these women.

“It encourages them to diversify into value adding their products in order to maximize their income by selling flower arrangements and venturing into new home based businesses.”

Ms. Kasanita Balenaivalu of Navutu village said she only did flower arrangements for her church and she shared that it was in God’s time that allowed the flower arrangement training be held to enhance and develop her passion to another level. 

For Sainimere Vakayavutabua of Vatukorosia village, the knowledge gained from the training has motivated her to start a floriculture business, as she was able to learn how to decorate and balance the colour of flowers to use surrounding resources.  

Fellow participant Ms. Mereani Bura shared her gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture for bringing the training to them seeing as a majority of training brought over was usually for the men as the floriculture training was specifically for the women to assist in their livelihood.

Part of the training outcomes are enhancing women's knowledge to understand floral art, and the factors affecting the design and to understand basic floral designs.

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