Yesterday, the Live and Learn Fiji team in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, held a market linkage and plant health training for five informal settlements along the Suva and Nausori corridor.

Live and Learn Food Security coordinator Ponijese Korovulavula said the training is to bring these informal communities out of their community concepts and to show them the vast opportunities available outside their communities.

“This is all in a bid to continue to elevate living standards and improve nutritious and healthy diets for families,” explained Mr. Korovulavula.

“We have been assisting these settlements in terms of enhancing their food security plans and it is vital that their knowledge is extended to market linkages and plant health,” he said.

“There are risks in informal settlements with land space and while making sure they eat a healthy diet three times a day, we would like to equip them with knowledge on earning income through short-term crops.”

“Most of them grow vegetables and it is also vital that they are educated on various pests and diseases that can minimize growth of their crops and vegetables in their backyard.”

Maria Colati of Waikerekere said she is grateful to have attended the training she has learnt a lot on the simple technologies of backyard farming.

“Soil is our life, health, and better future and one thing I have learned is that it is possible to farm as a business even as a woman if we put our efforts into it. I learnt that we need to keep good records of our small farming activities as well as be alert of the types of diseases that often attack our crops and vegetables and ways to combat it,” she said.

In addition to market linkages and plant health, participants also learnt about farm management practices.

Participants who attended the one day training live in Bilo, Kilikali, Waikerekere, Corbett, and Matanisivaro settlements.

The training ended with a tour of the Agriculture Marketing Authority of Fiji, the SUJOSE nursery, and a visit to the Central Agriculture office in Lakena, Nausori. 

ENDS

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