26 September, 2023, 8:52 am Central - 25°C Rain

Fiji is an agricultural country and we must invest in it - Chaudhry

Fiji is an agricultural country and we must invest in it - Chaudhry

By Krishneel Nair
Saturday 26/11/2022
Fiji Labour Party Leader - Mahendra Chaudhry

The Leader of the Fiji Labour Party Mahendra Chaudhry says they feel Fiji is an agricultural country and they must invest in agriculture, revive the rural sector, find employment opportunities and build rural hubs.

While speaking on the fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, Chaudhry says the plan for FLP is to invest in agriculture, develop land that is lying idle, assist landowners to develop the land and make it available for commercial agriculture.

He says the FLP is proposing agricultural estates which will solve the unemployment and housing problems.

He adds it will boost agricultural production and also boost the economy in rural areas.

When asked how the agricultural estates will be set up, Chaudhry says at a point in time, when there was a need to increase the sugar production in Vanua Levu, the Seaqaqa sugar belt was developed.

Chaudhry says there were provisions for farmers to stay in a hut-like accommodation.

He adds, 30 years leases were also granted that year.

The FLP Leader says no one can expect farmers to clear the land to make it productive, they need to be assisted.

Chaudhry further says they were taking a similar approach that the government will acquire land, create 3 to 5 acre farms which will be agricultural estates and build basic homes on it.

He also says they are looking at taking people back from the urban to the rural sector and providing the farmers with these estates.

Chaudhry says there is a big problem in the urban squatter settlements where people are mostly unemployed.

He says with this program these are the people who have an opportunity to move back and go into farming.

Chaudhry adds there is no reason for those who are unemployed and have not been able to access tertiary education can not go into farming.

The Leader also says there is a lot of money in farming for those who are willing to work hard and there are a lot of people who made a success out of it.

You can watch the full interview here.




2022-2023 Budget Coverage



-->


fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
FEATURE NEWS
Risk of spread of Nipah Virus to Fiji is low – Health Ministry
The risk of the spread of Nipah Virus to Fiji is low, particularly as none of the countries in the region have reported cases and we do not import ani...
51 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
It is critical for street dwellers to be assisted - Tabuya
It is critical for street dwellers to be assisted and alleviated from a life of poverty to one of productivity. This has been highlighted by the ...
47 minutes ago

Online Safety Commission, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Ministry of Home Affairs to appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan at 7pm tomorrow
Online Safety Commission’s Acting Commissioner, Tajeshwari Devi, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali and Ministry of Home Affairs ...
2 hours ago

The Business License Act was revoked in 2020 to streamline and improve businesses in Fiji. - PS Local Government
Business Licenses were removed because the Business License Act was revoked in 2020 to see how the government can streamline and improve businesses ...
16 hours ago

Reserve Bank of Fiji hands over $103.4 million in profit to Govt
The Reserve Bank of Fiji has handed over a record breaking profit of $103.4 million to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor ...
16 hours ago

Nabua family lives in fear after being threatened and claims that Police are not doing their job
A family living in the Muslim League Settlement in Nabua have been living in fear for the past few months because they claim that the Police do not ...
16 hours ago
IN DEPTH
EBayShop Online Recruitment scam
The Consumer Council of Fiji has issued a public alert about a group of individuals running a deceptive pyramid scheme known as “EbayShop Online Recruitment.”
22 hours ago

7 Grace Road Group executives declared prohibited immigrants in Fiji after decisions by the South Korean Government and a request by Interpol
7 Grace Road executives in Fiji have been declared prohibited immigrants by the Fijian Government, it has been made clear through government ...
22 hours ago

Bainimarama and Qiliho’s trial
The trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho begins
39 days ago

TOP