Twenty-one Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways officials from the Western Division will today, complete a two weeks In-House Refresher Training, designed to strengthen their technical capacity and enhance service delivery to farmers.

Principal Agriculture Officer Farm Management, Mr. Mohammed Kadir Khan, commended the participants for their dedication and commitment throughout the training and also reminding them of the importance of their roles as frontline extension officers who need to have up-to-date knowledge in order to equip farmers to improve their farm productivity and livelihoods.

“As locality officers, you must be well-versed with the changing trends of modern agricultural practices. The knowledge gained over the past few days will help you develop better and more practical farm plans that can uplift farmers’ livelihoods,” Mr. Khan said.

The training focused on deepening participants’ understanding of soils and land use, farm reporting and profitability analysis, and whole farm budgeting. It also aimed to refresh participants’ skills in farming system development—ensuring that all officers are equipped to guide farmers effectively in their localities.

Mr. Shahil Chand, Agriculture Assistant for Stray Animal Control (Nadi/Lautoka), expressed his appreciation for the training, noting that it would help him better support farmers in preparing comprehensive farm plans.

“I’ve learned a lot from this refresher training and knowledge and information gained will enable me to collect and organize data effectively to help farmers access financial facilities when needed,” he said.

For Ms. Adi Vutevute Vatea, a newly appointed Farm Assistant for Bukuya West under the Crop Extension Division, the training was a valuable foundation for her role.

“This is my third month serving with the Ministry, and I’m truly grateful for this opportunity. It will help me prepare better and more accurate farm plans for the farmers I serve,” she said.

Mr. Usaia Nakidakida Sausauwai, Agricultural Technical Officer for Rakiraki, emphasized that the refresher training strengthened his technical abilities and reinforced the importance of quality data collection.

“I’ve attended similar training before, but this one was timely—it renewed my focus on producing well-prepared farm plans based on sound data,” he said.

Ms. Rehana Bi, Agriculture Assistant (Animal Health and Production) based in Korolevu, Nadroga, also shared that the training provided valuable insights on aligning farm plans with the Ministry’s business plan.

“I’ve learned so much about preparing proper farm plans that meet Ministry standards. This knowledge will help me deliver better support to farmers in my locality,” she added.

The training featured technical input from Principal Research Officer Land Use, Mr. Solomoni Nagaunavou, who guided participants on the essential elements of effective farm planning.

The program will conclude today with a certificate presentation ceremony for all participants.

END

• ← Go to all Press Releases