The Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways is focused on increasing the production levels of our farmers for a strong and sustainable future, and the strong partnership with British American Tobacco (BAT) Fiji allows us to work closer to our goal.

These were the remarks by the Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Honourable Vatimi Rayalu at the BAT Fiji Grow+ 1 Million Seedlings Celebration in Nadi this morning.

Speaking to farmers and stakeholders, Hon. Rayalu said that he is humbled by the collaboration and strong partnership that the Ministry has developed with BAT Fiji over the recent years.

“For more than 69 years, BAT Fiji has continued to operate as a model agriculture business in Fiji showcasing the potential of the agriculture industry, through good agricultural practice,” explained Hon. Rayalu.

In 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with BAT Fiji launched Grow+, BAT Fiji’s flagship Corporate Social Investment project. This project has grown in leaps and bounds to be one of the largest seedling distributions to farmers around the country and are given free of charge at no cost to farmers.

“BAT Fiji is able to get export-approved seeds from our Sigatoka Research Station which they sow in their State-of-the-Art Greenhouses located here at their Leaf Division. In these greenhouses, quality seedlings are cultivated regardless of external weather conditions. By doing this, the risk of early crop failure is removed and robust seedlings are given to our farmers,” explained Hon. Rayalu.

Grow+ provides two varieties of eggplants, two varieties of chillies and tomato seedlings. These seedlings take at least six weeks in the greenhouse to germinate before they are ready for transplanting. Once the seedlings are ready, the BAT Fiji team works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture extension team to provide seedlings to each district.

“Last year, BAT Fiji was able to provide half a million seedlings to farmers around the country. This year they have reached a record one million seedlings that have been distributed through Grow+. This is a major accomplishment in enabling our food security and our efforts to increase our agricultural produce,” added Hon. Rayalu.

He added that together with our local farmers, BAT Fiji has been able to provide close to two million vegetable seedlings over the last three years and now targets to deliver one million seedlings annually.

To be able to increase its Grow+ reach, BAT Fiji has constructed Grow+ Remote Greenhouses in Nadarivatu, Tutu in Taveuni and Naroi in Moala, Lau. They plan on building another two next year in Savusavu and Kadavu.

Approximately 29,000 lives are positively impacted through this social investment and the ripple effect is significant.

Hon. Rayalu praised BAT Fiji for the wonderful initiative that has the potential to drastically increase Fiji’s total agricultural output.

“BAT Fiji will continue to provide millions of vegetable seedlings to the agriculture sector in the years to come.”

Hon. Rayalu, together with BAT Fiji General Manager, Sam Dormor also launched their first Grow+ crop guide which will assist farmers through various technical information which will also be followed by trainings.

ENDS

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