Crop And Livestock Farmers Request For More Training

Crop and livestock farmers have requested for more train­ing after the two days’ work­shop organised by Fiji Crop Live­stock Council (FCLC) on Friday.

FCLC chief executive officer, Jiu Daunivalu made this comment in an interview with SunBiz.

Ms Daunivalu said these farmers need capacity building.

“Farmers want more extension ad­visory service provided by the Min­istry of Agriculture.”

“We are planning to conduct more trainings for these farmers because we have the funding.

Aim

“The ultimate aim is to help in­crease farmers’ productivity and income individually and collectively, alleviate poverty, improve livelihood, ensure food supply security, and sus­tainable land management.”

Bottom-up approach

Ms Daunivalu said: “FCLC provides the opportunity for all farmers of Fiji in the crop and livestock sector of approximately 65,000 members, to be represented.

“Bringing them into the process of decision making through ‘participa­tory and bottom-up approach.”

She said the ‘bottom-up approach’ was whereby farmers’ issues were identified and appropriately ad­dressed.

The vision she said was to organise farmers and their organisations into dynamic and professional entrepre­neurs and partners in agribusiness.

“They are to be supported and pro­vided with effective services, and empowered through appropriate knowledge and skills in all aspects of farming with inclusive approach, involving youth and women.

Building network

“Understanding and building net­work with key stakeholders is priori­tised by FCLC as part of advocating and lobbying.

“For the farmers and their organi­sations, securing sustainable sup­port and strengthening partnerships at different levels with primary and secondary stakeholders.

“This in their capacity as players, supporters, enablers, and facilitators along the value chain.

“The agriculture sector has been and will always be in transition.”

Adding that agriculture and agri-food systems are very complex and dynamic, as they are constantly changing, adapting and innovating in relation to the context and envi­ronment in which they operate,” she said.

Ms Daunivalu added many drivers and trends affect agriculture.

And these she said are likely to impact the farmers and farmers’ or­ganisations and well as the market structure of the value chain.

The workshop organised by FCLC in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) and Pacific Farmer Organisation.

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