The Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and in partnership with line agencies have drafted a Youth in Agriculture Analysis Report which will become the basis of the Youth in Agriculture Policy.

The Policy’s intent is to support rural youth farming and promote their empowerment through participation in the economy, governance and decision making.

This is inclusive of the Ministry of Agriculture’s 5-year Strategic Development Plan’s vision of developing

a Sustainable Competitive and Resilient agriculture sector and that is to prepare and promote young people to transition into and develop a lifelong career in the sector.

The Fiji Youth in Agriculture report is based on an in-depth analysis of the data collected from the 2020 Fiji Agriculture Census which recorded that 1/3 of members of the total farming households are Youth and 5% of those youth are women.

The Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Dr. Vinesh Kumar during the Youth in Agriculture Policy consultation with key stakeholders said it was vital that an environment that actively promotes young people in agriculture is created.

“Globally, the average age of farmers has grown to over 60 years old, as young people leave the rural economy for the cities, here in Fiji, we are blessed with a relatively young population, large areas of arable land, fertile soils and mostly good rainfall,” he said.

“Our nation needs hardworking and creative young energy to transform this natural bounty into a mature, stable production system that addresses immediate food security needs and strengthens our rural livelihoods, nutrition and ultimately, our economy,” said Dr Kumar.

He said it was the Ministry’s and stakeholders’ responsibility now to support young farmers and prepare

them through a favourable policy environment.

“Agriculture and productive rural livelihoods moreover can contribute significantly to mitigating the risks

associated with urban migration, unemployment, criminality, substance abuse and other anti-social activities involving youths.

“Young people represent the future, the energy and dynamism of the agriculture sector, they will become the primary producers our nation needs to continue to feed Fiji,” he said.

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