MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS
HONOURABLE PARVEEN KUMAR BALA
Friday 27th November, 2020-2:00PM
• Master of Ceremony
• Village Elders
• Church Leaders
• Youth members
• My Ministry staff
• Members of the media
• Ladies and Gentlemen
Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all,
It is such a pleasure to be back here,just a month ago I did the honours of handing over farming assistance to four youth clubs here at Nativi village.And today, we mark another milestone achievement as I close this three-day training on Farm Management.
At the outset, I wish to thank the village elders for a warm welcome and would like to say vinaka-vakalevu!
Ladies and Gentlemen, over the course of the past few months my Ministry has witnessed interests in farming expressed from many youths around the country.The village of Naviti welcomed me last month to handover farming materials such as spades, forks and vegetable seedlings just to name a few to four youth clubs. This Youth Farm Initiative program provides grants to youth clubs to cultivate land and grow crops. It is a great co-operative venture, because landowners set aside a portio of their land for their youths while the Government provides grants for equipment, tools, vegetable seedlings, water tanks, fencing materials-just to name a few.
These young people will put land to use and be able to earn income through the sale of the harvest.
Many young Fijians were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are assisting those who are out-of-work or on reduced hours, these youths deserve the chance to work again and that is why have handed over the assistance and have completed the three-day training with you all.
Now, over the last three days a total of 30 youth participants have completed training in Farm Management. This is in alignment with the Ministry’s mission to empower youth through engagement, qualifications, knowledge, skills and resource development contributing to sustainable success for all.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to note that the Ministry of Youth and Sports has conducted a total …Through this training, the youth participants have become empowered to manage and develop youth farms.It is our hope that through this training, it has enabled you to improve on business finance management and address the societal ills and socio-psychological issues associated with unemployment.These farms support sustainable institutions and contribute to the GDP.
Farm management is essential for farmland owners to maximize annual return on investment and long-term capital appreciation. Any farmland should increase in value and produce annual income to land owners, but with progressive farm management, landowners can expect much higher profitability.
Ladies and Gentlemen,I would like to reiterate the importance of upskilling and urge our youths to continue learning new skills and upgrading yourselves because that is what is required in these changing times. My Ministry is happy to be part of your community development. I wish to encourage all young Fijians to take a pro-active approach in dealing with any of your current circumstances---especially during this pandemic.
Finally ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to extend my appreciation and acknowledgement of other stakeholders who have been involved in this process.
With these few words,I wish to congratulate you all and wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
Vinaka-vakalevu!