Agricultural Students calling to the Promised Land
Minister of Agriculture says we need more CEOs than Managers to help Agriculture grow and reach its potential in Fiji.
Mahendra Reddy made this remark when farewelling the nine students that have been selected to undertake the 11 months training at Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training(AICAT) Israel from August 2019 to June 2020
To be at the the forefront in leading the modern concepts that will galvanize the Agricultural industry with yield and growth, contributing immensely towards Fiji’s economy.For these students, it is an opportunity of a lifetime.
. The farewell was at Koronivia Research Station’s conference room on Thursday. This training is part of the Memorandum of Understanding between MASHAV(Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture which was signed in 2017.
The areas of cooperation between Fiji and Israel was initiated following Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s visit to Israel in 2016.
The 11 months programme will take place in the Arava region, in the south of Israel. Agriculture in the Arava is the spearhead of modern and sophisticated agriculture in
Israel, using modern technologies.
The training undertaken, will certainly enhance the student’s capacity which will eventually help develop and the agriculture sector in Fiji in the long term.
Professor Paul Iji, Dean, College of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Fiji National University advised that the students will be exposed to the latest method in agriculture incorporated with state of the art technology.
”It’s called smart farming”, said Professor Iji. “To work smarter and not harder”. Gone will be the days for farmers toiling and cultivating their land under the hot sun. An example that Professor Iji points out, “Imagine being a chicken farmer and you lose electricity at 3am in the morning.” “Rather than walking out to rectify the problem in the early hours, this can be done through the comfort and confines of your bed
“Smart phones have the ability to programme the generator control.
“Up goes the backup without the normal struggle. An ideal scenario of working smarter and not harder.”
Students Serenia(Nia) Maramaciri, 22, hails from
Tailevu.
She did her schooling at Bucalevu Secondary School in Taveuni.
With her family background of dalo and yaqona farming, she decided to follow suit and pursue a career in Agriculture.
She is currently studying Agronomy whereby she will develop methods that will improve the use of soil and increase the production of food and fiber crops.
After completion of her studies, Nia plans to start her own farm following in the footsteps of her family.
Shivneel Chand, 20, is from Kavanagasau, Nadroga. Son of a farmer from Sigatoka Valley, his field of expertise is Farm Mechanisation. He has seen the everyday struggle that his family had endured to run their farm. He plans to implement technology and new methods to improve and enhance farming.
“I would like to set up a model farm that will be accessible to all farmers in Fiji.” “So that the benefits of smart farming is available to all to utilize.”
He also plans to continue on farming in Sigatoka Valley with the norm, fruit and vegetables, which will be complimented by livestock farming.
He sees value in raising sheep and believes a great return on investment on this venture.
Attachment with a Difference
The students will receive wages for the work that they will undertake in their respective field of studies.
Students went through a rigorous selection process. Being second year students, they were profiled based on their academic achievements in their first year of study. Students identified and earmarked for selection were screened via Skype interview by AICAT management in Israel. Selection was purely on merit and academic achievements to date.
Being the pilot group to venture out to Israel, the invitation was also offered last year. However, with not having enough time to prepare, the offer was passed upon.
Travel Arrangement
Seven of the nine travelling students have fully paid their one-way airfare to Israel.
The other two students should finalise their airfares in full prior to departing. All nine passports have been sent by courier to the Israeli Embassy, Canberra, for the vetting of Israel visa through MoA & Ministry of Foreign Affairs support.
The nine students are scheduled to depart Fiji next week, August 2 and should arrive in Israel on August 3.
VIKASH PRASAD SUVA