Salutation:
Ni sa bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all.
I am delighted to be with you today in support of this Summit’s purpose “Empowering Farmers for Sustainable Agriculture”.
It underscores our shared commitment, not just to increasing production, but to securing the future of farming families, rural communities, and our entire nation through resilience, innovation and sustainability. The Summit is a vital platform that brings together the heart of our nation’s agricultural sector, our Farmers, and the key Stakeholders who support their outstanding contribution.
Today, we gather not only to discuss economic opportunities but to reaffirm our commitment, as a nation, to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Agriculture remains the backbone of our country, and foundational pillar of Fiji’s economy, society, and environment. It puts food on our tables, sustains livelihoods, and drives rural economies. But to thrive in this era of climate uncertainty, global market shifts, and rising input costs, our farmers need more than just seeds and fertilizers, they need a support system that recognizes the challenges they face on a daily basis.
With regard to the SDG, it is through events like this Summit that we make the SDGs actionable, not in theory, but in the farms, fields, and homes throughout Fiji.
This Summit aligns with the broader vision of the Fiji National Development Plan, which seeks to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economy. Agriculture features prominently in our national development agenda, with a focus on increasing productivity, improving food and nutrition security, promoting sustainable practices, and unlocking new markets, both local and international.
The importance of the agricultural sector to Fiji’s economy cannot be overstated. Agriculture contributes approximately 15% to our national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and directly supports the livelihoods of over 60% of our rural population. It has the potential to be even more. It is food security, a pillar of employment, and a critical engine for inclusive economic growth.
But to thrive in an era of climate uncertainty, global market shifts, and rising input costs, our farmers need more than just seeds and fertilizers. They need the confidence of support that empowers them at every step. They need a formal system of support, one that is based in our legal framework.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, and the Ministry of Sugar, have laid out comprehensive strategies to modernize our agricultural sector. The focus includes diversifying crop and livestock production, enhancing extension services, investing in digital agriculture, and building resilience to climate-related risks. The Government, through the works of both Ministries, is working hand-in-hand with farmers and stakeholders to transform agriculture from subsistence-based to a vibrant commercial sector.
Let me also acknowledge the commendable efforts of the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council (FCLC), which continues to amplify the voices of farmers and provide vital coordination among producer organizations. Their work in profiling farmers, identifying issues to be addressed, and promoting parametric insurance, digital farmer onboarding, and improving market linkages, is paving the way for a more secure and profitable future for our farming communities.
This transformation is where organizations like the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council (FCLC) play a vital role.
FCLC was established to give farmers a strong, united voice, to advocate for their interests, and to ensure that national policies reflect the realities faced in our fields and farms. It is a farmer-driven organization made up of over 20 commodity-based associations—from livestock to root crops, from honey to vegetables—working together under one umbrella.
FCLC was formed with the vision: to represent, organize, and empower farmers through improved access to markets, information, training, and financial services. It now exists to bridge the gap between farmers and government, between science and the soil, between policy and practice, between market requirements and supply conformance.
Through FCLC’s efforts, farmers today have access to:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
“Empowering farmers for sustainable agriculture” means giving the farmers the tools to adapt, the voice to influence, and the support to thrive. It means recognizing that when our farmers succeed, our nation is stronger—economically, socially, and environmentally.
That is why our Government continues to work in partnership with organizations like FCLC, with our development partners, and most importantly, with the farmers themselves. We are investing in research, infrastructure, market access, and education, because sustainability is not a slogan, it is a strategy. A strategy that puts farmers at the center.
As we look to the future, let us continue to build an agriculture sector that is inclusive, innovative, and resilient. Let us support and empower our farmers, not just as food producers, but as guardians of our environment, engines of economic growth, and stewards of our future.
Together, let us turn our theme into action: Empowering Farmers for Sustainable Agriculture.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the purpose of this Summit is clear: to create a space where farmers can meet face-to-face with policymakers, technical experts, buyers, financiers, and development partners. It is about listening, learning, and collaborating. It is about translating challenges into solutions and ideas into action. It is about building a resilient agricultural economy that provides decent livelihoods and ensures food security.
The Theme for this year’s Summit, “Empowering Farmers for Sustainable Agriculture’ means Strengthening Fiji’s Agricultural Future”. This reflects a simple truth: that no one actor can transform the agricultural sector alone. We must work together, government, private sector, academia, civil society, and most importantly, the farmers themselves, as individuals and collectively through their farmers organisations, co-operatives, or clusters.
The role of stakeholders in this journey is critical. Whether it is providing access to finance, supporting research and innovation, developing climate-smart technologies, or ensuring fair market access, each stakeholder has a vital role to play.
To our farmers: you are not just food producers; you are nation builders, environment stewards, and economic drivers. We value your hard work, your resilience, and your wisdom. This Summit is a testament to our respect for your contribution and our collective commitment to support your aspirations.
Your status and work as farmers are a most noble and spiritual one. The Good Book informs us of the First Farmer. His farm was called Eden. There, He planted everything that to this day, we’re trying to emulate. He knows what it takes to toil the land, to plant, nurture and harvest. In the New Testament, seeds, sowing and harvesting informs the parables. Farming is therefore central to the Lord’s theology of faith, love and discipleship.
Make the most of these two days. Think creatively, dialogue honestly, learn from one another and particularly from Whom we live and move and have our being. Therefrom, set a course for meaningful and measurable progress in the agricultural sector, that benefits all, leaving no one behind.
With these words, I have much pleasure in declaring the Fiji Farmers Economic Summit 2025 officially open.
Vinaka vakalevu, Thank you, and Dhanyavaad.
God bless our farmers, and God b