Livestock health funding request tabled

Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture is advocating for a significant increase in funding to bolster its animal health programs and disease surveillance capabilities. This strategic move is part of a larger national effort to safeguard the country's vital livestock sector and bolster overall food security.

Minister for Agriculture Tomasi Tunabuna emphasized that disease control will remain a paramount priority. He highlighted the necessity of additional resources to enhance monitoring, prevention, and response mechanisms across the archipelago. Tunabuna stressed that maintaining robust animal health is critical for protecting farmers' livelihoods and ensuring the long-term sustainability of livestock production in Fiji.

"We continue with our farming assistance to those who are doing livestock. We have infrastructure, and we also have our animal health component, which includes surveillance of some of the diseases that we have," Tunabuna stated, underscoring the ministry's ongoing commitment.

The ministry plans to make disease control initiatives a central component of its upcoming budget submission. Officials are seeking greater investment in advanced surveillance systems and comprehensive animal health services. Furthermore, they aim to strengthen collaborations with research organizations and other government agencies to improve the nation's capacity for detecting and managing livestock diseases effectively.

This push for enhanced animal health funding aligns with the ministry's broader objectives to improve food security, elevate agricultural productivity, and minimize losses within both the crop and livestock sectors. Alongside disease monitoring, the ministry will continue its support for livestock farmers through infrastructure development and targeted assistance programs designed to strengthen the industry.

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We continue with our farming assistance to those who are doing livestock. We have infrastructure, and we also have our animal health component, which includes surveillance of some of the diseases that we have.