From left: The President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Commonwealth Veterinary Association president Abdul Rahman and Commonwealth Veterinary Associations chairperson of the organising committee, Robin Yarrow during the 15th Commonwealth Veterinary Association Regional Conference at Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi yesterday. Photo: WAISEA NASOKIA
By JYOTI PRATIBHA
The President has stressed the need for ensuring greater cohesion and effective implementation of the import substitution programme to increase self-reliance and reduce imports.
President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, while addressing the 15th Australasia/Oceania Commonwealth Veterinary Association Conference, said there was a need to look into avenues of improvement in livestock farming.
He said the major challenge facing many countries was producing more for local consumption which would enable greater self-reliance and enhanced food security in the process.
The conference is at the Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi.
Fiji imported $68million worth of dairy products last year while animal and meat product imports reached $57million.
Government has been injecting around $4m – $5m annually to the livestock sector in terms of improving livestock research and breeding etc.
Government has also allocated $1m this year for the dairy development programme to assist farmers through subsidizing agro input cost.
“Referring to the steadily increasing demand for livestock products, this is now providing greater opportunities to producers and in some situations, regional export markets are also developing.”
More veterinarians
Ratu Epeli said there has been a need for veterinarians in the region and Fiji.
“Producing our own veterinarians will also be a better way of using the resources required – and which are available locally – for this purpose, as opposed to sourcing them from often expensive overseas institutions.
“New approaches such as partnerships with overseas veterinary schools are now increasingly “the way to go”, thereby building on their experience and knowledge.”
The faculty of veterinary science of the University Putra in Malaysia is participating in this conference.