Ten couples graduated from the Tutu Rural Training Centre after completing a six-month program on managing farm households.

The Farming Couples course aims to provide training and support to couples in farming, helping them embrace their rural lifestyle and make the most of their resources to improve their livelihoods.

While speaking to the graduates on Friday last week, the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Hon. Tomasi Tunabuna emphasized the need for their assistance in expanding Fiji's agriculture sector and unlocking its potential.

He highlighted the crucial role of entrepreneurial farmers in securing the country's food security and expressed the need for competitive players in commercial agriculture.

“By providing an enabling environment, the government aims to encourage the utilization of skills and introduce innovative ideas in the sector. Therefore, I encourage the graduates to keep going and pursue the next level,” he said.

He said farming is a specialized and skilful profession, therefore, running it as a business requires farmers to have a commercial mindset and to equip farmers, it is necessary to provide them with proper training and assistance.

“Transitioning farmers from a subsistence mindset to a commercial one is the way forward to achieve our nation's social and economic development goal,” he said.

He said over the years, Fiji has not fully realized the potential of vocational schools such as Tutu Rural Training Centre and has treated it as a second-best or fallback option when one fails in the academic streams.

"Now, people are gradually paying attention to it and considering it as the 'master key' to development. It can open all the 'doors' of lifelong learning and improve vocational expertise by providing relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies for employability, improving the quality of living, and learning communities," said Hon. Tunabuna.

He said the Ministry is committed to developing the agriculture sector and has moved from a top-down approach to a more demand-driven approach that focuses on the needs of our youths.

“The government is committed to making sure that the youths have access to knowledge, skills, and training so that they can effectively contribute to the growth of the nation.”

Since its establishment in 1969, Tutu Training Centre has had the vision to train and empower young men and women to utilize and develop their own resources, especially land, for self-employment, income generation, poverty alleviation, and food security.

The government's contribution to Tutu Rural Training Centre has gone up to $900,000.00 from $600,000.00, marking an increase of $300,000.00 in this new financial year (2023-2024).

Hon. Tunabuna acknowledged Tutu and the management for their commitment and responsible management of government resources.

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