Twenty farmers of Naivorati, Lomaivuna in Naitasiri are now part of the Contractual Farming Initiative of the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA).

These farmers have signed contractual agreements with the AMA and have committed 125 acres of their mataqali land to be used for the planting of dalo, with a further 30 acres dedicated to the planting of duruka.  

 While launching the Naivorati Farms and announcing the contract signing yesterday, Minister for Agriculture Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy said farmers had the potential to leverage the agriculture sector towards becoming the country’s leading economic sector.

 Dr. Reddy stated that Fiji’s strategic advantage laid in the primary sectors. Amongst these, agriculture was blessed with year-round favourable weather conditions, arable land, and availability of water, having a significantly high impact on the overall output of the sector.

 “Through the establishment of large commercial ventures, the Ministry aims to boost its agribusiness potential, actively promoting agri-led economic growth in Fiji.

 Hon. Reddy also shared that he was intent on securing the social livelihoods of farmers throughout Fiji post-retirement from farming, which was an integral aspect of the Farmers Contracts, as contracted farmers would become members of the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) through the initiative and have funds directly deducted to their respective accounts as and when payments are made for the produce provided.

 “Today with the signing of the agreement, your focus, your attention, your energy, your worries on how you were going to take it to the market, securing your buyers, that worry is now gone; save that energy for yourselves and focus on treating your farming as a business,” said Minister Reddy.

 He highlighted that through the Contractual Farming program, farmers would now be socially secure; “When Tropical Cyclone Winston hit, all who were affected could access their FNPF to help them rebuild. You could not go then because you were not members of the FNPF, but through the agreement, you are now eligible for FNPF deductions.”

Minister Reddy challenged the newly contracted farmers of Naivorati to grow as an enterprise, which would in turn ensure the development of their community.

 Speaking on behalf of the Naivorati Farms, Head of Mataqali Naivorati and landowner, Mr. Tomasi Nasuikau acknowledged the commitment shown by the Ministry of Agriculture and the AMA for the initiative’s implementation.

 “For me, this is the first time we’ve received the Minister for Agriculture and we thank him for meeting with us and coming down to our level and launching this initiative here, especially now, we’re being handed an opportunity to become members of the FNPF, we are overwhelmed,” said Mr. Nasuikau.

 “I was convinced that this initiative would only bring great things for the members of the mataqali and as such, each member of the mataqali has been given 10 acres of land each to ensure that we meet the agreement we have signed today with the AMA,” Mr. Nasuikau added.

 Through the launch of the Naivorati Farms, employment for members of the landowning unit has been secured. The landowning unit is also considering planting ginger as part of their contractual agreement with the AMA and the decision is pending the mataqali’s consent.

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