It was a momentous occasion this morning when the Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Fiji, Mr. Maurizio Cian handed over three policy documents to the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways Fiji, that will assist in paving the best way forward for the agricultural sector in Fiji.

The three documents handed over today are the Fiji Agriculture Sector Policy 2024 – 2034, Monitoring and Evaluation Guide and the Pre- Feasibility Assessment of Cassava Processing in Fiji.

In receiving the three documents, Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Honourable Vatimi Rayalu said that the European Union, through the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Programme, have been engaged in every step of the way leading up to the handing over of the policy documents.

“When I started my first year as the Minister for Agriculture, I had met with the team from the European Union and had discussed with them my vision for the Ministry and areas that we needed assistance, ” explained Hon. Rayalu.

“The EU, then made commitments to carry out a number of things that we had discussed like the engagement of a new consultant for the assignment on reorganization of the Ministry; support the development of the next agricultural policy document; undertake a pre-feasibility study for the processing of cassava; and support the Ministry on private-public sector dialogue.”

“I am pleased that the EU team has kept their commitments. The report on the reorganisation of the Ministry has been well received and is currently being implemented by the Ministry and we have restored the line divisions.”

“The Crop Extension Division has been reformed and the Regional Managers have been refocused as Principal Agricultural Officers for crop extension in the four geographical divisions.”

“We have reconstituted the Land Resource Planning Division and retitled Heads of Divisions as Directors.

Also importantly, we are aggressively addressing issues of staffing in the Ministry. The Policy document is receiving the attention of my staff and we are looking forward to have this document finalised and in implemented shortly after the new national development plan is finalised and launched,” added Hon. Rayalu.

Hon. Rayalu added that the pre-feasibility study of cassava processing has been well received and was presented to the Stakeholder Committee working on the issue of advancing the development of a cassava processing industry in Fiji.

“On the issue of public-private sector dialogue, I know that the EU experts held a workshop on Financing for Agriculture. Financing or the lack thereof, is one of the more intractable problems that has plagued the development of the agriculture sector. It is one area that we will need to continue making concerted efforts to address. It is one area that we hope to continue to engage with your institution and projects to resolve to the benefit of our farmers.”

Mr Cian said that the European Union is a partner in the development of the agricultural and rural sectors in Fiji.

“Agriculture was a priority sector of support under our previous programming cycle. The budget support programme also came with complementary technical assistance from the European Union. The technical assistance team, comprising of both long-term and short—term experts have been embedded in the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways since September 2021. Their terms of reference highlight providing support to the Ministry in the implementation of the Strategic Development Plan 2019 – 2023,” explained Mr Cian.

More specifically, the EU experts have been supporting the Ministry in strategic actions such as:

Developing a revised structure for the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways (MoAW).

Formulating the Fiji Agriculture Sector Policy 2024 – 2034

Formulating the MoAW Strategic Development Plan 2024 – 2028.

Developing and implementing the MoAW Costed Operational Plans (for 2022 – 2023, and for 2023-2024).

Developing a rigorous and sustainable monitoring and evaluation system.

Computerising the Monitoring & Evaluation system,

Conducting a mid-term review of the MoAW Strategic Development Plan 2019 -2023.

Conducting studies on commodities, of which the cassava pre-feasibility study was handed over today and

Capacity building in policy analysis, in project design and implementation, in monitoring and evaluation, and value chain analyses.

Today’s handing over ceremony also signals the fast approach of the end of the technical assistance project that has been in the Ministry for the past three years.

Hon. Rayalu thanked the technical assistance consultants for their expertise and engagements with the staff that have enabled things to move steadily towards agricultural development using a holistic approach.

-ENDS-

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