The Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Viam Pillay, together with the senior managers from the Ministry met with farmers from Bua, Macuata, Cakaudrove and Taveuni last week.

Mr Pillay said the main purpose for his visit to the Northern Division was to meet and have a talanoa session with farmers and see how best the Ministry of Agriculture could assist them.

“The purpose for this visit is to meet farmers, sit down with them as a cluster, as a community or as a village and hear issues from them and what the Ministry of Agriculture can do to assist them so they can progress on their farms and increase their income,” Mr Pillay said.

“Wherever we have meetings, our team on the ground goes back to the farmers and provides them with the support and assistance that they need.”

Mr Pillay said the Ministry of Agriculture officers were committed to help and assist farmers on the ground.

“From the discussions we had with farmers during my last visit, our officers had moved in and conducted meetings with the farmers and now they are in the process of doing some proposals on how their concerns and issues will be resolved,” he said.

“Some of the farmers do not require financial support but they need technical support which we will continue to provide through our officers on the ground.”

Mr Pillay said the Ministry would continue to support and assist farmers throughout the country.

“It is good to hear issues and problems from farmers and this talanoa session and the visitations will continue in all other divisions in the future.”

Mr Pillay also advised and encouraged farmers to form cluster groups in villages.

“It is advisable for farmers to form cluster groups so that our assistance is targeted to the whole group and at the same time all farmers in the group will benefit from the assistance that we provide,” he said.

Source: DEPTFO News

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