UniFiji Receives Food Security Grant for Western Division
The Ministry of Health and the United States (US) Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) presented a FJD$733,000 (USD$350,000) grant to the University of Fiji in support of food security in the Western Division.
USAID Pacific Islands Acting Senior Development Advisor, Patrick Bowers launched the USAID-supported University of Fiji project - Development of Entrepreneurial Skills Post-COVID-19 through Rural Aquaculture at the university’s Saweni Campus in Lautoka on Thursday.
The grant would assist in the development of alternative sustainable livelihoods through reviving aquaculture production of Tilapia in Vitawa and Mallau in Rakiraki.
The grant will provide support through aquaculture and entrepreneurial training for targeted beneficiaries.
Mr Bowers said: “This grant to the University of Fiji is just one small part of the US Government’s commitment
to support Fiji and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Forestry, Pene Baleinabuli said aquaculture was a priority development in Fiji.
“Many of our fellow Fijians who have lost their jobs because of COVID-19 have resorted to the natural resource sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and forest to earn a living for themselves and their families,” Mr Baleinabuli said.
University of Fiji’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Shaista Shameem said the grant would be valuable in enabling communities to pick up from where they left off during the COVID-19 pandemic.