NATI leads dairy industry development with successful training program
THE Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute (NATI) achieved a significant milestone as it wrapped up its National Certificate in Agriculture (Dairy Production) Level 2 training program.
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka presented certificates to the 15 graduating students, marking the successful end of their educational journey at NATI.
Senior Tutor in Animal Husbandry at NATI, Unaisi Waibuta, explained the journey undertaken by the institute towards realizing this milestone.
“The initiative to take on the training program was an outcome of consultations with stakeholders and the Ministry of Agriculture way back in 2020,” Ms Waibuta, emphasising the collaborative efforts that paved the way for this endeavour, said.
NATI, following a curriculum review in 2019, aimed to broaden its spectrum by imparting highly technical skill sets in agriculture.
The fruition of this aspiration saw the institute being identified as the most suitable entity to deliver the “Fiji Dairy Industry Development Initiative” aimed at formalising industry standards through the Fiji Dairy Industry TVET strategy.
“The Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute, apart from the Marist Training Centre at Tutu in Taveuni, is the only agricultural technical institute that trains future replacement farmers for Fiji,” Ms Waibuta stated while underlining the institute’s unique role in shaping the future of agriculture in the country.
With the successful completion of the program, NATI seeks to instigate transformative change in rural communities.
“Our intention is to create change in rural communities through graduates taking a lead role in driving agriculture development at the community and provincial levels.”
Ms Waibuta highlighted the multifaceted benefits envisioned, including rural employment, improved livelihoods, food security, and curbing rural-to-urban migration challenges.
The training program, initially planned for launch in 2021, faced setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic but through resilience and determination the stakeholders persevered to ensure its fruition.
Reflecting on the curriculum and sessions, Ms Waibuta highlighted the comprehensive nature of the training, encompassing modules such as dairy cow management, animal husbandry, and basic farm management. Practical sessions provided hands-on experience, including dairy cow restraining and milking standard operating procedures (SOPs).
As NATI continues to expand its educational offerings and collaborates with stakeholders, its vision of becoming the hub of agricultural activities for the Pacific region moves closer to realisation, embodying the spirit of innovation and progress in Fiji’s agricultural landscape.