Fiji’s agricultural sector presents significant financial opportunities if properly developed, according to Luke Balenaivalu, a lecturer in the Department of Industrial Arts at the Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute.
He noted that two stalls have been established to highlight the institute’s three-year farming program for students.
“We have abundant resources, including land, and this institute serves as a practical learning environment for students,” Mr. Balenaivalu stated. He emphasized the program’s inclusion of hydroponic farming to combat the effects of climate change, mentioning that specific planting practices enable successful harvests despite environmental challenges.
The Methodist Church and the institute provide approximately five acres of land for students to cultivate. Following the completion of the program, students have the option to lease this land.
Mr. Balenaivalu explained that by the end of the program, students typically have around $35,000 saved from the sale of crops grown on their designated land. “This is the only institute that enables students to earn money through the sale of their crops,” he said. Each year, the institute enrolls between 100 to 150 students, with around 10 being female.
Second-year student Salanieta Bulivorovoro highlighted that the farming program offers youth a valuable opportunity to engage in productive activities. “After completing our three years of study, we will decide our next steps, but most of us prefer to stay at the student farm,” she added. Ms. Bulivorovoro is planning to pursue a career as a veterinarian.