Visoqo nursery targets food security, climate resilience

Visoqo Village in Namuka district, Macuata has been selected as one of 20 communities in the country for Live and Learn Fiji’s Kiwa EMPOWER nursery project.

The villagers received garden tools as part of the project during a launch yesterday.

The chief guest, provincial administrator for Macuata, Revoni Rakasalu said the nursery was a foundation for climate-smart agriculture, an approach being supported by the Fijian Government and Live and Learn Fiji to help communities grow food and manage land and resources in ways that are resilient to a changing climate.

“This nursery is a direct investment in food security, livelihoods and the long-term wellbeing of every family in Visoqo and the district of Namuka,” Mr Rakasalu said.

“What is planted here today in these small seedlings will, in time, grow into food on the table, income for households and protection for the environment that sustains us all.

“Alongside the nursery, we are also handing over community tools, tools that belong not to one individual, but to the whole community.”

Mr Rakasalu said the tools were meant to be shared, used and cared for collectively whenever members came together to plant, clear land or work on a shared project.

Kiwa EMPOWER project regional manager Subesh Prasad said the organisation was there to facilitate and support the community alongside its stakeholders.

“This project is community-driven and focused on food security, climate-smart agriculture and biodiversity restoration,” Mr Prasad said.

Tui Namuka Emori Logavatu urged people in the district to support the project.

“It is now your turn to make use of this nursery, which has been brought to ensure that our resilient crops and children’s future are secure,” Mr Logavatu said.

“I am proud to see that our three villages in the district have been chosen for the Kiwa EMPOWER project.”