Rural Millionaire Initiative Praise

Provincial administrators in Fiji’s 14 provinces have expressed support for the rural millionaire farming project, saying it ensures proper use of idle land.

The comment came at their planning workshop at the Studio 6 Apartments in Suva by Commissioner Eastern Luke Moroivalu.

Mr Moroivalu initiated the concept in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture.

For this programme to be successful, Mr Moroivalu, said the church, vanua and the Government must work together.

He said he also travelled to Namosi, where the province was now using this programme.

Roko Tui Ba Jese Volau said this programme could be very useful in the province of Ba, especially when they had a lot of unused land.

He said they could use their land to plant vegetables and other crops.

“Their Indo-Fijian brothers who are leasing and apart from sugarcane they’re planting vegetables and other crops to get quick cash,” Mr Volau said.

He supported the use of the programme in villages.

Roko Tui Nadroga/Navosa Semi Kuru said the rural millionaire programme was good for the people, but it should be included in the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs business plan to allow the various Roko Tui to monitor it.

Mr Moroivalu said those living in the rural areas could become millionaires if they drew a farming plan to follow.

He said he introduced the “Rural Millionaire” programme in the Eastern Division to encourage maritime dwellers to venture into businesses, especially farming.

This programme was very successful at Sawaieke Village in Gau as 46 youths planted 1000 yaqona plants each, to be harvested after three years.

The youths also planted dalo and the money they received from sales was reinvested in their yaqona farms.

Some of the youths, he said, had built their new homes, some bought their vehicles and some invested their money.

The planning workshop ended yesterday.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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