VEGETABLE and crop farmers who trade through the Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) could soon have an opportunity to become Fiji National Provident Fund members.
Agriculture Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy said the ministry planned to establish retirement funds for each farmer.
“We want to develop a social package that will benefit the farmer for a long time,” he said.
“The ministry wants all farmers to set up their own Fiji National Provident Fund accounts.”
He said the FNPF deductions would be made on a voluntary basis.
“We will help set up these accounts for those interested in becoming members so when they get paid for their harvest, we will make the necessary deduction for the member if they agree to making the payments.”
Mr Reddy visited farmers in Rakiraki, Nadarivatu and Ba to promote new sale agreements between farmers and the AMA. He said certain crops and vegetables would be introduced to farmers to ensure their commercial farming programs were sustainable.
“AMA will buy the crops from the farmer. Some farmers in Nadarivatu go all the way to Tavua, Ba, Rakiraki and Lautoka to sell their crops. With AMA they don’t have to do that.
“Tavua may give them a $2.90 per kilogram price. We will pay them $1.90 per kg because the market is coming to the farmer.
“They don’t have to travel all the way to Tavua, Ba, Lautoka or Nadi to sell their crops.
“What we want to do now is introduce other crops for the farmer to plant. For the first time we will be providing the seedlings for these crops.
“These crops are rice which will be bought by Fiji Rice. We also want to promote duruka and cow peas for which the market is available for the farmer.”
