Seruiratu: Agro Marketing Authority Better Now
The Minister for Agriculture Inia Seruiratu says the Agro Marketing Authority (AMA) is in a better shape now. Mr Seruiratu, while speaking in Parliament this week, said the AMA, formerly known as the Fiji Agriculture Marketing Authority by the past government, was hugely in debt and was on the verge of collapsing.
He said the then Fiji AMA was established by an Act of Parliament in March, 2004.
“The opposition is always enthusiastic about mentioning the initiatives of previous governments. Again this is an initiative of the SDL government, but Madam Speaker this is just to cover up the bad management and in efficiencies that existed before AMA,” Mr Seruiratu said.
He said AMA was funded through an annual government grant provided through the normal budget process of about $6 million to assist AMA to provide services to the rural population.
“It is unfortunate that since its inception the AMA was plagued by bad management practices and was on the verge of collapse. Government made a decision to appoint of- ficers, all debts were cleared in 2014 and now we have made progress,” he said.
He said AMA was now in the process of acquiring the old Rewa Rice Mill in Nausori and was informed by management that this would be settled this week as AMA operated out of this facility.
He also said between March and April in 2017 AMA opened its office in Nausori and Savusavu that catered for the entire Northern Division.
A branch is also planned for Taveuni and Dama in Bua. “It shows government’s commitment to the Look North Policy, these are commitments to bring services to the people. These are significant developments,” Mr Seruiratu said.
SODELPA Opposition Mosese Bulitavu, in response to Mr Seruiratu, questioned why the AMA office in Nausori Town culminated into setting up one or two restaurants. Mr Bulitavu said he could not understand the objective of this as the role of AMA was to provide farmers with opportunities.
“Why go into business with local restaurants? Has Government run out of ideas to improve lives of rural communities?” Mr Bulitavu asked.
National Federatin party MP Parmod Chand, while acknowledging the Look North policy, said it was commendable but wondered if it was too little too late.
“We hear Government is investing into continued facilitation of purchase and sales of agro produce for our rural community through AMA in the North,” Mr Chand said. “We seem to get stuck in this model and if we look at the national marketing authority history it has not progressed very fast.
“The minister talked about necessary facilities. I must say we should not blame the past people because you have been in government in the last 12 years. What were you doing? Why couldn’t this be done then? why are you doing it on the eve of election? Blame game is not good.”