The Assistant Minister for Agriculture urged women to encourage the men of their households to continue making use of idle land because farming can become a form of business.

Women play an important role in the agriculture sector. Sharing these sentiments, the Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Viam Pillay, encouraged more women participation in the sector.

He closed the Sustainable Land Management and Farming as a Business workshop at Qelewaqa in Labasa, this week. He urged women to encourage the men of their households to continue making use of the idle land because farming can become a form of business.

“Women involved in the agricultural field is one thing the ministry is trying to encourage as they are an important element in the society,” Mr Pillay said.

“Women keep on encouraging your husbands to continue to make use of the land, the land shouldn’t be idle and be used for planting.

“Utilise your land in such a way that you can plant short-term crops for fast money.”

He also highlighted with the advanced technologies, farming had been made easier and faster but maintain sustainable practices needed to be observed.

“The Ministry will continue to provide trainings to those who are interested not only to this community but to Labasa as a whole. I am here to meet with farmers to see the progress of what we have discussed earlier during my last trip. I urge you farmers to continue to visit our office near you,” he said.

Mr Pillay also handed over farming equipment to the Qelewaqa-Vatudova Cluster team.

He also visited more farmers in Labasa and Wailevu.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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