THE MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS
HONOURABLE PARVEEN KUMAR BALA

Tuesday 27th October, 2020, 3:00PM

• Turaga na Tui Levuka,
• Turaga I Talatala and Vakatawa,
• Turaga Tuiwai and Matakilevuka,
• Youth members,
• Lomaiviti Provincial Council
• My Ministry staff
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to each and every one of you present here today.

Let me first take this opportunity to thank the village elders and the youths for a warm welcome.

This afternoon I am pleased to handover farming tools such as spades, forks, materials for a greenhouse and seedlings just to name a few. This will all add value to what you are already doing with your farms.

We want our young Fijians to value farming and let us not forget that our parents and forefathers have worked hard and we must continue the legacy.

I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of the landowners who provided consent to these youth clubs to utilise the land for farming.

 Yesterday I had handed over the same farming assistance to five youth clubs and three (3) this morning. A total of 168 youth members will benefit over the course of my two-day visit here in Ovalau who will receive the farming assistance. So far, the youths have said that this assistance will help stabilize their food security, set up income generating projects as well as help them achieve their farming development objectives. They have told me they feel encouraged to work even harder and achieve success in terms of farming.

This process has involved the utilization of vacant land in rural areas for families. Our youths are realizing the value of the land, rivers and sea as the foundation for their lives and therefore be used as an income generator for our youths to meet their needs.

So with those few words now, I launch the Youth Club Farming Project for our two (2) youth clubs here today with us all.
Thank you and Vinaka-vakalevu!