Three villages from within the Rukuruku and Nawaicoba districts of Nadroga received agriculture development assistance through the small nursery programme, improved livestock breeds (piggery), coconut seedlings and dalo planting materials.

The villages of Rararua, Dreke and Narata each received these packages from the Ministry of Agriculture recently.

While handing over the packages to the villages at Rararua Village, Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy highlighted the importance of continuously leveraging the agricultural capabilities and possibilities available within the rural community setting for their own benefit.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole country shut down but agriculture kept going, in fact, we were exporting and our exports went up because a lot of people came back to agriculture and we’re very excited that there’s a lot of potential in agriculture and we want to utilize that for the benefit of the mataqali and members of the mataqali and for national benefit.

"With that in mind, we’ve brought some assistance to support you in agriculture and your youths who are actively involved in agriculture," said Minister Reddy.

He said that the basic requisites needed for agriculture were readily available to them - vast amounts of land, manpower and able-bodied youth, the only thing needed was for them to utilize their natural and human resources well.

"You’ve got the basics for agriculture, the land and manpower, youths and we want you to utilise your land for the benefit of your own members of the Mataqali and in the national interest for the benefit of the country's economy.

"When the agriculture sector grows, not only you will benefit but the country will also benefit, we’ll get more income for the country, we can make more roads, we can provide water and electricity and provide better health facilities and better schools better amenities for the growth and development of everyone," said Hon. Reddy.

Narata villager Vatiliai Lagivala thanked Minister Reddy for his encouraging message and praised the work of the Ministry of Agriculture in delivering its service to the people of Rukuruku and Nawaicoba district.

"We are blessed to receive the nursery kits and material here because our mainstay is farming and we live off the land through our forestry too and agriculture, I believe the message from the Minister will motivate us to plant more and produce more," said Mr. Lagivala.

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