Florists from Taveuni are cur­rently visiting their counter­parts in Labasa to have bet­ter market linkage understanding.

The two-day visit, organised by Ministry of Agriculture, started yesterday.

The ministry’s assistant farm management North, Niraj Lal, said eight florists from Taveuni would visit nine gardens in Labasa be­longing to florists.

“These women attended an em­powerment of women training in Taveuni last month and we brought them to Labasa now to gain experi­ence of market linkage and know more about their partners,” Mr Lal said.

“There are four clusters in Tave­uni and each having an average of nine members. While in Labasa, we have six clusters with an average of 14 members.

“The ministry is trying to moti­vate them so that they can move up another level and tackle climate change problems.”

Penaia Bale, 66, of Natakalou, Taveuni, and the oldest member in the group said the different weath­er pattern had affected the growth of flowers.

“In Taveuni we receive wet weath­er often and so the variety of flow­ers and the growth is totally differ­ent from Labasa where the weather is very hot and dry,” Ms Bale said.

“I have been selling flowers from home for more than 12 years now, but with this first visit to Labasa as a florist, it has changed my percep­tion.

The exchanging of knowledge and experience has been very helpful.”

The youngest florist among the group, Manarusa Mccomber, 37, of Naqere, Taveuni, said she started her floral business last month.

“Through this short visit I have been able to establish contacts for the local market,” Ms Mccomber said.

“I would like to thank the Minis­try of Agriculture for this opportu­nity.”

Meanwhile, Northern Flori Cul­ture Association president Hemant Rao, while showing the florists his garden in Labasa yesterday, said they were trying to setup up a re­source centre in the North where florists could sell their flowers.

Edited by Naisa Koroi