Women from Navolau No. 1 Village in Ra are turning agricultural training into a sustainable business after becoming an approved supplier of vegetable and fruit seedlings to the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry, following training in Sustainable Land Management and Farm Management.
The Marama ni Navutalakise Cluster, which is part of the Yavusa Burenitu, recently completed the training facilitated by the Ministry, gaining practical skills in nursery management, seedling production and sustainable farming practices.
The training has already produced results, with the women's group now recognised as an approved vendor to supply vegetable and fruit seedlings to the Ministry in Ra Province.
The achievement provides the cluster with a sustainable source of income while supporting the Ministry's efforts to improve farmers' access to quality planting materials across the province.
To help meet the growing demand for seedlings and maintain the required quality standards, the cluster worked closely with Ministry officials to establish a nursery.
The new nursery will allow the group to increase seedling production, improve efficiency and ensure a reliable supply of healthy, high-quality vegetable and fruit seedlings.
It is also expected to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the business while creating more economic opportunities for the women involved.
Cluster President Alena Beraua says the Sustainable Land Management and Farm Management training has given members the knowledge and confidence to improve their farming activities and pursue new income-generating opportunities.
Beraua says becoming a recognised supplier to the Ministry is a proud achievement that reflects the dedication and hard work of the group's members.
She says the training has equipped them with the skills to produce quality seedlings and manage their nursery more effectively, adding that they are committed to maintaining the standards expected by the Ministry.
Beraua says the establishment of the nursery has given the women the confidence to expand their operations and meet the increasing demand for quality planting materials.
She says the group's vision is to grow the nursery into a reliable supplier of quality planting materials while creating more economic opportunities for women in the cluster.
Beraua adds they hope their success will inspire other women's groups to embrace agriculture as a pathway to sustainable livelihoods, while benefiting farming communities throughout Ra Province.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry says it will continue supporting community-based groups through training and capacity-building programmes that empower women, promote climate-smart agriculture and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
