‘We are going to make farming a profession’

Who will buy my product? and How will I take it to the market?

These were the two questions looming and needed to be answered by the Agricultural Marketing Authority to increase the number of farmers in the country.

In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer, Agricultural Marketing Authority Alvin Sharma said: “We have identified our top 30 produce items which are categorised under vegetables and fresh produce, root crops, and fruits.

“We will now provide “Farmer Contracts” to our current and potential suppliers.

“This means that we will be providing

a written contract to the farmers for a three-year period.”

He said with the contract they would define the:

■qua■tity of produce required, ■what are the intervals it is required at,

■what will be the price range to be paid out to the farmer,

■a■d the obligations of AMA and the respective farmer.

“This will apply to current farmers and all new potential farmers.

“Anyone in Fiji with access to land and dedication to farming can apply for this contract.

“If you have been laid off and wish to switch to an alternate self-sustaining career opportunity, then this can be the opportunity that you have been waiting for!

“We are going to make farming a profession, and we are not going to stop there!!!

Monitoring

“We understand that for new and existing farmers finding funds for land preparation can be a huge challenge.

“For all our contracted farmers, AMA will offer them an interest free cash advance, depending on their output commitment.

“This cash advance shall be used to prepare the land and plant the required crops.

“The AMA will then deduct this amount from the monies to be paid to the farmer for his or her crop in 2 – 3 deductions inside 12 months.

“We will monitor all our contracted farmers and slowly increase the amount of the interest free cash advance that they can take.

“We envision a time in a not too distant future; ■whe■ a farmer has grown his produce output to a level where the cash advance can buy him farming implements ■or become deposit to buy a tractor or vehicle, ■or is used for renovating his or her household, ■or to pay for their children’s education,

■ or used in such a manner to improve his or her livelihood.

“In this journey, to assist our farmers, the AMA will take a lead role in negotiating on behalf of our contracted farmers.

“Still, we are not going to stop there!!! All our contracted farmers will

members of the Fiji National Provident Fund and their relevant deduction will be made by the AMA from the respective monies which is to be paid to the farmers.

“For the first time ever in our history, ordinary farmers will now be able to become members of FNPF. “They too will be able to accumulate their hard earned savings for their retirement, or make use of the FNPF’s wide range of services. “We will work with the Ministry of Agriculture and the relevant financial institutions to ensure that our contracted farmers also have access to rural banking facilities, where these services are taken to them rather than them going to these institutions.

“We will also explore on how or which of these services could also apply to non-contracted farmers. Still, we are not going to stop there!!! We have answered the first part of the farmer’s question on “Who will buy my product”.

Second question

“Now, we will answer the second part of their question, on “how will I take my produce to the market”.

“In addition to our Savusavu Collection Centre, we will also be opening up our collection centres in Navua, one in Keiyasi Sigatoka, one near Sigatoka Town, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Rakiraki, Nadarivatu, Tailevu, Naitasiri, Bua, Dreketi, and Kadavu, before the end of this year. “This will mean that we will buy the produce from our farmers in their localities and pay them cash inside 72 working hours.

“This will mean that the transportation costs of a farmer will be significantly be reduced.

“This will mean that a farmer can farm more produce to earn extra money.

“This will mean that now more and more new Fijians can get into farming.

“More importantly, this will mean that we will create more “new” jobs in Fiji.

“We are confident that as a result of these phenomenal initiatives. “We will have more produce available for sale which will also ensure steady prices at the markets, increased number of farmers in the system.”

Farming becoming a profession

“Farming will become a profession with farmers being able to make significant savings and become members of FNPF,

■I■creased livelihood standards of our farmers,

■Substa■tia● growth in Agricultural sector and less reliance on imports of these produce.

■Mome■tous increase of Food Security in Fiji

■a■d increased selfsustainability of “Grown in Fiji” food products.

■New jobs being created,

■More business for the MSME’s and the private sector as the farmers will be buying relevant staff for their homes, and

Billion dollar industry

Agriculture becoming a billiondollar industry.

“We strongly feel that today is a start of a momentous period for the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural Marketing Authority, the farmers of Fiji, and our beloved nation.

“It is a journey to build on the excellent work already carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture/ AMA.

“Also further untap the vast potential which agriculture can play in somewhat negating the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, whilst also ensuring that –

“We making farming a profession!”