Three commodity associations have joined the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council (FCLC).
The three associations – Spice, Mushroom and Tavioka – join the other 12 commodity associations that comprise the council.
The present members include Pigs, Beekeeping, Dalo, Yaqona, Grazing Livestock (includes Dairy, Beef, Goats, Sheep), Ginger, Cocoa, Agri-Exporters, Organics, Fruits and Vegetables, Rice and Coconut Producers/Millers.
FCLC chief executive officer Jiu Daunivalu said the new addition were an affirmation of the importance of the council in the commercial development of the non-sugar sector of the agriculture industry.
“We continue to register farmers and update the Fiji Farmers Database. ‘Know your Farmers’ (KYF) is the slogan used by FCLC in driving registration and profiling farmers, for information, monitoring, evaluation, assessment and learning purposes,” Mrs Daunivalu said in a statement.
“Since its inception in 2010 by Government, Fiji Crop & Livestock Council (FCLC) has been working behind the scenes to improve the business of agriculture, from import duty reductions to increased availability of seed varieties, but especially in its role as advocate for our 32,000 member farmers into Government.”
Mrs Daunivalu said the Council’s role was especially important now in confronting the damage being caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, to help strengthen food security through its efforts.
She said this had involved raising awareness on potentials of farming, and encouraging farmers, including women and youths, and the unemployed to take up farming as a career.
The FCLC has initiated a number of programs, specifically designed to address the needs of agriculture, as the Council works with Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, to drive growth in the industry towards poverty alleviation, food security, and exports.
