Minister for Agriculture, Doctor Mahendra Reddy says the agriculture sector is skill-neutral and does not require a diploma or a degree for interested individuals to take up farming at any level.
He highlighted this to farmers in parts of Fiji during his informal talanoa sessions to discuss ways to improve their farming yields and productivity.
Reddy says during COVID-19, people who lost their jobs turned to agriculture, people took up farming and returned to their villages, islands and rural areas because, in agriculture, they did not need to attain tertiary qualifications like an accounting degree or a bachelor’s degree in business.
Reddy adds with open arms, the agriculture sector received the recently unemployed and they saw a ‘Back to Rural’ movement, ‘Back to Village’ movement, ‘Back to Island’ movement, ‘Back to Grassroots’ movement.
The Minister also highlighted the Ministry had initiated a programme – ‘Back to Rural Agriculture’ programme, which provided start-up packages for individuals who had recently lost their employment and had taken up agriculture.
He says they gave them a package to assist them as they began their agricultural journey.
Reddy is also urging village elders to support these new farmers.
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