Ministry Hands over Nurseries for Food Security
The Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Viam Pillay during his recent tour to the North officially opened three nurseries funded by the Ministry of Agriculture at Cawaru Village in the district of Udu, Nabouwalu Hospital and the Dogotuki Health Centre respectively. Hon. Pillay also handed over water tanks, farming tools and implements worth $35,000 to farmers of Cawaru Village. Hon. Pillay said Government would continue to develop rural communities through similar types of assistance in order to meet the demands and needs of all Fijians. “This Government is for everyone which is why we are here to assist you in Cawaru to further your agricultural prospects” the Assistant Minister said. “We will continue to assist and bring services so that you live fruitful and rewarding lives here in your communities,” he said. Udu district representative, Mr. Aisake Tusauma said the nursery and the assistance would encourage villagers to plant more for food security as their community heavily relied on marine resources’ for their livelihood. Meanwhile, Sub Divisional Medical Officer Bua, Dr. Kulae Tuisabeto thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for the timely assistance and partnership in working together with the Ministry of Health in the setting up of the nursery as a means of food and nutrition security. “This nursery will greatly reduce the need to buy vegetables for patients of this hospital and also minimize noncommunicable diseases (NCD’s) as we will be consuming more local fresh produce from our back yard gardens,” said Dr. Tuisabeto. Dr. Tuisabeto also said that patients and visitors of the hospital would be able to learn from this model and set up their own back yard farms for their individual livelihoods.