FIFTY government scholarships for agriculture studies plus a loan of $70,000 after graduation is up for grabs for this year's secondary school graduates.
After visiting the university's information booth in Suva, Fiji National University (FNU) Vice Chancellor Dr Ganesh Chand said the government would fund scholarships for students to do a one-year certificate course in agriculture.
Dr Chand said each graduate would then receive a loan of $70,000.
"This will allow them to buy 100 acres of farmland, a house, a shed, a tractor and basic farm implements, fertilisers and other necessary material plus $2000 start-up cash," he said.
"The government is basically paying enterprising young people to become farmers and the university is going to make sure they can be successful."
Dr Chand said this was not a small-time scheme to produce a few farmers. He said it was a genuine chance at getting into agro-business in a big way in any of the dozens of options the broad area of agriculture offered.
FNU has reported an accelerating interest in the government's new scheme to stake students to an agricultural career that includes land and a house.
FNU has a booth at the Government Information Referral Centre opposite the Suva Post Office and applications can be made to any FNU Campus academic office or online through the university's website.