The Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Tomasi Tunabuna, is encouraging the women of Vatukuca Village in Vaturova, Cakaudrove, to stay prepared and strong as they take charge of their newly established climate-smart garden.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony, Tunabuna stressed the importance of sustainable agriculture and proactive community development.
He says the government is committed to helping rural communities through smart and modern farming methods.
He praised the women for their hard work and encouraged them to keep using the skills they learned during training, saying that being prepared is key to dealing with challenges in farming and in life.
Tunabuna says sustainable farming is not just about growing crops, but about helping communities stay strong and independent in the face of climate change.
He urged the women to share what they have learned with others in the village to build a stronger, more resilient community.
The Ministry says the climate-smart garden is the result of a week-long Climate-Smart Agriculture training programme run under Save the Children Fiji’s KOICA-funded project, Women in At-Risk Communities Have Increased Resilience Through Economic and Social Empowerment.
The training was held in partnership with the Ministry’s Planning and Development Department and it gave the women expert advice on farming methods that suit Fiji’s environment.
The Ministry says the programme aims to help women in Vatukuca learn the skills they need to deal with climate change, improve food security, and become more financially independent.
During the training, the women took part in hands-on sessions on soil care, saving water, growing a mix of crops, and organic farming—all to support long-term farming success.
The Ministry adds this programme supports Save the Children Fiji’s mission to empower women, improve food security, and build climate resilience across Fiji.
