THE National Youth Training Centre (NYTC) in Sigatoka has recruited many youths for different training programmes over the years.
Bua lad Panapasa Rabulu Sunaki was one of the lucky ones picked for a 12-month training course in Japan.
He studied agriculture last year and upon his return in March, the Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) volunteer took time out to share his experiences in the Land of the Rising Sun.
How did you come to join NYTC?
(I) just filled the normal application form at the NYTC. In 2008, I attended NYTC to study Agriculture training with OISCA Fiji.
How was your experience at NYTC?
(The) one-year training at NYTC really taught me a lot of new things in organic and commercial farming as well.
How did you get the opportunity to go to Japan?
After I graduated from NYTC, I went home and started my own farm. At the end of every month, I submitted my report to OISCA Fiji. I reported on every daily activity I did in my farm. I was then selected by OISCA to attend a program in Kagawa Ken Shikoku, Japan.
What was it like there?
Well in Japan, everything is different. I learnt and saw a lot of new things and got new ideas on agricultural practices.
Describe your experience?
I experienced new techniques in organic farming. I was also able to learn their culture and experience the effect of climate change in Japan and how it's different from us here in Fiji.
What did you do there?
Apart from theory classes on agriculture, farm work and poultry farming there was actually a lot of practical and hands-on experience in farming techniques the mentioned.
What did you learn?
Apart from learning agricultural skills and farming techniques without chemicals, I learnt leadership skills.
How will this help you in the future?
I learnt how to teach agriculture and also how to take control of threats that could affect vegetables.
What are your future plans?
To teach agriculture to the youths of Fiji that attend training at NYTC and also to share the good knowledge about agriculture to the youths in my village.
Any other comment?
In Japan, I learnt that using chemicals in farming can make people sick and even lead to death. I just want to state that organic farming is good for the health. It is hard to produce but I think that we, the youths of Fiji today, should practise organic farming and save our Fiji for tomorrow.