MORE than 120 women including vendors at the Labasa market celebrated International Day for Rural Women yesterday.
Officiating at the celebration, Ministry of Agriculture’s northern administration officer Wainikiti Tunabuna told women the international day established by the General Assembly recognised the critical role and contribution of rural women including indigenous women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
Ms Tunabuna told women that the ministry played a vital role in the development of rural women farmers.
“There are various programs that you can be assisted under which will assist you to have food security and generate income for you and your families. One of these programs we have is through Cottage Industry Development Program whereby assistance can be given in terms of planting materials for masi and voivoi to increase planting and production of these crops.
“Under this program, processing sheds can be built to assist women to do value adding of these products like weaving of mats.
“Also, floriculture farmers mostly those ladies who are growing flowers for source of income are assisted with nursery items to grow quality flowers.”
