Eleven students from Fiji National University who have completed their studies in Agriculture have been awarded with 99 year commercial agriculture leases.
While awarding the offer letters, Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum encouraged the recipients to continue their hard work to contribute to the growth of the economy as there is a lot of potential in agriculture.
In 2013 agriculture scholarships were introduced and upon completion, students would be awarded the leases to assist them establish their farms.
He says this initiative will also encourage other students to take up agriculture and have a modern day approach to farming.
The Minister for Economy says with lease arrangement for the first 5 years, $2,000 start-up funds has also been awarded, and access to get FDB loans of up to $70,000 to start their farms and buy their equipment.
He says that now people can get the leases for 99 years which they can then use to borrow money, buy machinery and other things.
Meanwhile, 31-year-old Litea Varo cannot wait to begin her career as a farmer and continue her father’s legacy.
Varo is the only female of 11 students that have completed their studies in Agriculture and was awarded an offer letter of commercial agriculture lease.
Varo is the youngest of 7 siblings and says that her dream is now within reach as she aspires to pursue her passion as a farmer after growing up watching and helping her father with their farm in Kasavu, Naitasiri.
Varo now hopes to use this lease to sustain the livelihood of her family.
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