Fiji Crop and Livestock Council chief executive, Lavinia Kaumaitotoya.
By RACHNA LAL
The Fiji Crop and Livestock Council at one its most recent meetings endorsed an initiative aimed at improving access to both the range and supply of seeds for farmers.
Council chief executive Lavinia Kaumaitotoya said: “We are working with Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
“This is under the IKSA (Improvement of Key Services to Agriculture) programme to address this need.”
Meanwhile, at the meeting, council members were informed of the work done by the Secretariat to reduce the duty on agricultural inputs.
This has now been included in the 2014 Budget and the successful efforts to make fertiliser available to non-sugar farmers, a historical first for the non-sugar sector.
During the meeting, council members were also told about further effort to reduce duty on all agricultural implements.
They were also informed of Governments co-operation in wanting to have the items easily accessible to all farmers without going through the restrictive protocols that used to be in place.
The council is comprised of the Dairy, Beef, Sheep/Goat, Ginger, Kava, Honey, Fruit, Pig, Salad Vegetables and Coconut farmers as well as Food Processors Associations estimated to include close to 30,000 farmers.
Discussions were also held on challenges facing some of the council’s associations.
Additionally, the council has been requested to also form the Cocoa and Dalo Association by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Use of technology
Meanwhile, farmers will soon have an opportunity to join their associations “simply” by using their mobile phone but this is expected to be launched in the early part of 2014.
Ms Kaumaitotoya said of importance was the council also provides an opportunity for the farmers to voice their concerns and issues that affect them through their Associations, or directly to the council that have national consequences.
Members endorsed efforts by the council to improve communications between the council and its member farmers that will include the introduction of applications on mobile phones to improve market access.
“We are very aware of the difficulty in keeping in touch with our farmers,” Ms Kaumaitotoya said.
“But we believe with effective use of today’s technology; mobile phones, through the Ministry of Agriculture, e-mails even small shop bulletin boards we can begin to communicate and organise.
“The Fiji Crop and Livestock Council is here for every farmer, that is our commitment.”
The council’s role
Ms Kaumaitotoya has reminded farmers that the council is not a funding agency.
She said the council has often been approached for funds for farms and projects.
“We do not provide money; our primary role is to help the farmer increase his business and income,” she said.
She stressed the council’s commitment in helping its member farmers become more efficient in their business through improved access to technical and market information to increase their productivity and income.