Organic farming in Vanua Levu offers a huge potential that would trigger economic growth for the Northern Division.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Tomasi Tunabuna said the division had the potential to develop untapped resources.
“Farmers use fertiliser through traditional methods, in various parts of Vanua Levu,” Mr Tunabuna said.
“Fijians are still very conscious about getting certified organic products because they strictly follow healthy diet.”
A lot of training needs to be carried out for farmers to know the type of fertiliser to use when it comes to organic farming.
CHALLENGES FACED BY ORGANIC FARMERS
Taveuni Island is faced with dalo thefts affecting export efforts.
“The ministry would help link producers with the organic market so that they can sell their produce for the right income,” Mr Tunabuna said.
The other challenge farmers face was the high transportation cost to market.
From left: Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIEND) board president Makalesi Tavaiqia, Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) coordinator Jim Pierce, FRIEND chief executive officer Sainiana Rokovucago, divisional planning officer Northern Setareki Dakuiboca and FRIEND programme manager Melaia Salacakau, at Labasa, on June 19, 2024. Photo: Shratika Naidu
The geographical location of Vanua Levu requires long distance travel to transport their produce.
Some farmers struggle to reclaim land that was lost to rising sea level, Mr Tunabuna said.
“Some sought solutions such as developing irrigation and drainage, to reclaim land so that they can continue farming,” he said.
He said there were threats such as commercialisation where demand required large scale production on small farms, which ultimately required the use of fertiliser.
“We can address that by opening up agricultural land. Vanua Levu has a lot of land available for such purposes,” he said.
WHAT IS ORGANIC
Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) coordina-tor Jim Pierce said organic agriculture was a production system that sustained the health of soil, ecosystems, and people.
It relied on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.
“Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment, to promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved,” Mr Pierce said.
“Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecological health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity.”
Loata Raisogo of Vatulovona Village with her display during the Organic Farmer Conference in Labasa on June 19, 2024. Photo: Shratika Naidu
ORGANIC FARMING SUPERHERO
Organic farming was the way for-ward for farmers today, in the interest of sustainability, divisional planning officer Northern Setareki Dakuiboca said.
Surrounded by threats and challenges to health and security, organic farming was a solution to the way forward as farm produce were free of modern day short cuts of farming that used harmful chemicals.
“They are fast to produce high growth and yields, but the shelf life is cut short as well as their values,” Mr Dakuiboca said.
“By avoiding the use of chemicals on our farms we are saving our environment and our world.”
He said organic methods were about growing food in ways that were friendly to the earth, soil, water and humans.
Healthy soil meant healthy plants, and healthy plants meant healthy food, he said.
“And healthy food means healthy people. Organic farming helps take care of all our natural resources and is a superhero.
“It’s good for our health, good for the earth, good for the farmers and good for the future.”
People from Nasigasiga Village, Macuata with FRIEND chief executive officer Sainiana Rokovucago (middle) during the Organic Farmer Conference in Labasa on June 19, 2024. Photo: Shratika Naidu
FRIEND SUPPORT COMMUNITIES
Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIEND) organised an organic farmer conference for 350 farmers from 15 communities in Macuata.
FRIEND chief executive officer Sainiana Rokovucago said some farmers at Nasigasiga Village, Dreketi, had progressed to large scale organic operations.
The organisation provided farmers the opportunity to sell their produce, through processing units at Lautoka, where packaging was carried out before goods were sold in various markets.
Divisional planning officer Northern Setareki Dakuiboca.
FARMERS EXPERIENCE
A farmer and member of Nasigasiga Village community, Kaliovati Drotunayaqona said with the support from FRIEND they started organic farming in a small scale in 2016.
“Now we are doing farming on a big scale for bele, dalo stem, lemon, planters, banana and yams,” Mr Drotunayaqona said.
“It’s very easy to use traditional fertiliser on the farm and the crops from our farms are tasty.”
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