Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Inosi Kuridrani has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening grassroots service delivery after a familiarisation tour of agriculture stations in the Western Division. The minister visited Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba, and Lautoka, engaging with staff and technical officers to assess operations and identify areas where government support is needed.
Kuridrani said the tour is an important step in ensuring government resources are aligned with farmer needs, and that agriculture stations will continue to serve as vital hubs for crop advisory services, waterway management, and farmer outreach. He stressed that practical feedback from the field will shape the Ministry’s planning and capacity-building efforts moving forward.
The minister highlighted that the Ministry’s priority remains delivering service excellence, empowering frontline teams, and advancing the government’s broader goals of food security and rural development. He also underscored the importance of stronger collaboration between divisional and central teams to ensure cohesive, on-the-ground support for farmers.
This visit comes amid a broader push within the agriculture ministry to reform service delivery so that programs are market-driven, fair, and transparent. There is a growing emphasis on tying ministry initiatives to real farm needs, improving market access, and upgrading infrastructure to connect farmers with buyers more efficiently. Farmer engagement and transparency in how funds are allocated are shaping policy design and implementation, with the aim of building a more resilient and inclusive agricultural sector.
Analysts note that such field-driven engagements signal a positive trajectory for Fiji’s agricultural sector, fostering innovation, integrity, and teamwork across the ministry. By listening to staff and farmers alike, the government hopes to translate these insights into tangible improvements that boost productivity and rural livelihoods.
Overall, the Western Division tour reinforces a hopeful outlook: a more responsive, collaborative, and technology-enabled approach to supporting farmers, aligned with national food security objectives and the goal of stronger, more sustainable rural communities. The government’s continued focus on frontline empowerment and real-world feedback suggests meaningful progress for local agriculture in the months ahead.
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