May 31, 2022
Ten farming clusters and 50 individuals from the Northern Division received their small nursery packages recently to assist in their farming ventures.
Under the Small Nursery Programme, successful individual recipients are eligible to receive one cane knife, jerry can, digging fork, seedling tray and 25metres of shylon cloth, while the farming clusters receive 10 of the same items and 50metres of shylon cloth respectively.
While officially handing over the equipment to the successful applicants, Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy said the intent behind the programme was to ensure increased agricultural production and engagement in the sector.
Minister Reddy highlighted the resilient nature of the agriculture sector, sharing that it was the agriculture sector that continued to operate optimally during the COVID-19 pandemic despite all the border restrictions etc, continuing to earn much needed foreign currency through the export market.
"I want to thank all farmers for their hard work, especially over these past two years when faced with the COVID-19 pandemic we are extremely very happy with the progress shown so far in the agriculture sector but we want to continue with the momentum and we want to increase our exports and reduce the importation of agriculture produce that we can grow here."
"With that in mind, we are here to provide you with materials to help boost your production, you can use the small nursery equipment to raise seedlings and expand your own farms, we're here to leverage you, for your benefit and in the national interest," said Minister Reddy.
"I also want to thank our mothers who are involved in floriculture, orchids and in whatever aspect of agriculture you are engaged in, our support is here for you, and a testimony of this is the small nursery packages that we are distributing to you the clusters and individuals," he added.
Meanwhile successful recipient Rosia Karalaini of Namoli Village has expressed her thanks to the Ministry for the support towards her small farming.
"I've just been using a small piece of land here in the village to grow my vegetables and when I heard about the programme, I tried out my luck in applying and I am so thankful to have been chosen, it came as a pleasant surprise and I will surely make use of this package to extend my planting," said Ms. Karalaini.
Orchid Cluster Group of Vunivau president Ms. Ulita Mani said the nursery programme was a worthwhile programme and acknowledged the Ministry for the work it had conducted so far in assisting farmers.
"I just want to say thank you because with this assistance, we can do a lot and we know the Agriculture staff are doing a lot for us too and we are thankful for the small nursery items, it will help us greatly with our business," said Ms. Mani.
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