A glimpse of what to expect at the Crest 2013 Agriculture Show...Department of Fisheries and Forests’ display last week at the Government Information Referral Centre in Suva. Photo: LASARUSA TURAGA
By RACHNA LAL
Preparations are well underway for the Crest 2013 Agriculture Show to start on Tuesday at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
The five day annual event will be held from September 3 to 7.
Crest Agriculture Show Secretariat, Nacanieli Takele, said they will have more varying kinds of displays at the show this year.
He recommended the one to watch will be the display from the Department of Fisheries and Forestry.
Department of Fisheries and Forestry acting principal planning officer, Lasarusa Turaga, said they will be displaying a bigger variety of fisheries and forestry commodities this year.
“This would be from live specimen to value added products. We have also invited a few stakeholders also for displays,” he said.
Mr Turaga said they will also have a Fisheries & Forests “RIDGE to REEF” night where there will be drama items shown based on conservation of our mountain ridges to the coastal reefs.
Department’s plans
Mr Turaga said they intend to raise more awareness through displays and dissemination of accurate and concise information to the general public.
“This is aligned to our vision and mission which is collectively enhancing sustainable Fisheries and Forest resources management practises for the benefit of our future generation,” he said.
“Knowledge is our primary objective for the week.
“With this, we will then incorporate our Commodity Development for the next five years as a partnership undertaking with resource owners and other relevant government departments. This is a government initiative.
“We also intend to relate this to how best we together with the Department of Agriculture, can boost our contribution to gross domestic product as an economic sector.”
Bigger turnout
The department is expecting a bigger crowd turnout at the event this year compared to last year.
“We feel that apart from knowledge shared, resource owners and interested stakeholders will take advantage and venture into fisheries and forests commodity developments,” Mr Turaga said.
“Members of the public should maximise this opportunity in government’s awareness outreach programme here in Lautoka.”
Crest’s participation
Meanwhile, Mr Takele has assured that Crest has ensured this year that they will have surplus day-old chicks at the agriculture show this year.
“Last year Crest ran out of the day-old chicks but this year, they have surplus,” he said.