Agriculture Show Targets Rising Farm Costs in Fiji

Fiji's upcoming Agriculture Show will address the mounting pressure on farmers caused by escalating fuel and input costs. The event, scheduled from September 15th to 17th at Subrail Park, aims to equip farmers with practical strategies to cut expenses and enhance productivity.

Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Tomasi Tunabuna announced that the ministry will champion cost-saving techniques, with a particular emphasis on crop rotation. He highlighted the benefits of integrating leguminous crops into farming systems, especially in sugarcane regions where fertilizer expenses are high. These crops, when incorporated back into the soil, can naturally reduce the need for fuel and fertilizer, thereby increasing overall productivity.

The show will feature demonstrations on how leguminous crops can be effectively utilized to enrich soil health and lower the costs associated with agricultural inputs. Additionally, Minister Tunabuna pointed out the potential of modern technology to decrease dependence on manual labor while simultaneously improving output. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore tangible solutions that can lead to reduced operational costs and improved crop yields.

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In a sugar cane area where fertilizer is expensive, the introduction of leguminous rotational crops into the sugar cane farming system. The different kinds of leguminous crops that we can grow so that they can be incorporated back into the soil and reduce the cost of fuel and increase in productivity.