By RACHNA LAL
The Fiji Crop & Livestock Council (FCLC) has praised the European Union for its contribution towards the launch of the council.
Council chief executive, Lavinia Kaumaitotoya, said: “We believe that FCLC will play a major role in helping to develop the non-sugar agricultural sector of the economy.
“We are grateful that the European Union has recognised our importance.
“Too often those that help contribute to our economy are not properly acknowledged. EU has been a good friend to Fiji over the years.
“Many of its wide-ranging projects that it has funded have focused on agriculture helping so many of our farmers become self-reliant.”
Financial support
The European Union through its implementing agency, the International Trade Centre (ITC) has made a three-year commitment of financial support to the council under its IKSA project.
Ms Kaumaitotoya said this has ensured the council can effectively implement a number of programmes to help its farm associations.
The council has received further recognition when it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government as an important organisation to progress the growth of the non-sugar agricultural sector.
Membership drive
“We will officially launch FCLC towards the end of March but we are already beginning to work on membership,” Ms Kaumaitotoya said.
“It is free to the farmers. A number of benefits will be offered to improve farm output as well as provide better access to markets.
“I am confident that when we reflect on our contribution to the farming community, we must acknowledge our funding partner the EU that has helped make it happen for the council.”
The Fiji Crop & Livestock Council is comprised of 12 commodity sectors.
This includes pig, dairy, beef, sheep/goat, root crop, ginger, kava, honey, fruit, salad vegetables, coconut growers and food processors.
It has recently added cocoa, rice and dalo to its list of associations.