The memebers of the Cakaudrove Provinicial Youth Council Yaqona Farm Project working on the Devodara Farm in Savusavu. Photo: MELI NAMASI
By SITERI TALEITAKI
The recently-established Provincial Youth Council Yaqona Farm Project in Cakaudrove Province in the North is expected to give a vision to the younger generation.
Cakaudrove Youth Council co-ordinator Meli Namasi, said elders of all provinces in Fiji are concerned and willing to put in every effort to rescue the youths from poverty.
Roko Tui Cakaudrove Bulutani Mataitawakilai said the Yaqona Farm project would assist in self-funding of youth programmes and activities by 2016.
“By the year 2016, the yaqona plants should be matured and youths are able to self-fund programmes,” he said.
Next farming and targets
Roko Bulutani said the next farming will be done in October and they hope for more response from the all youths in Cakaudrove.
“The more financially stable the Provincial Youth Council is, the more awareness work and capacity building training our Youth Co-ordinator and Youth Workers can conduct,” he said.
Roko Bulutani said they plan to target planting enough yaqona which would make 1000 kilograms and hope to increase the figure every year.
“This will not be a one year thing; 1000 kilograms per year after three years can fetch about $30,000 if a kilogram in three years’ time will be $30 per kilogram.
At least 240 youth are engaged in various activities to generation income.