Jone Vakaloloma & Nawaikama Farming Group

Farmers in the Nawaikama village on Gau Island recently underwent a one-week training program led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Resource Planning and Development Division and the Animal Health and Production ​Division ​team in Levuka.
Burei, Navure, Cuku, Burelevu, and Najiale are the names of the five Yavusa that make up the village of Nawaikama,
Dale Kramer, the training team leader, made it clear in his presentation that the main goal of this training is to promote farming as a family business for viable and sustainable food, nutrition and income security. This is done through imparting skills in commercial business mindset, record keeping, enterprise budgeting, and marketing."
Some small-scale farmers do have management qualities, but they still focus on maintaining their traditional way of life. Their production decisions are based on what they need -- not on what is possible.
This has stimulated the main purpose of the training which is to motivate farmers to become a better decision maker in order to compete in the new marketing environment. Farmers have to have knowledge and skills in order to respond to and overcome farming challenges.
Saiasi Vaniqa Mateitoga the village chief Headman said, "We are so fortunate that this new government is listening to our request to come and conduct this training in our village."
Targeted participants need to be basically literate and numerate, but not necessarily formally educated. To make more money from farming, farmers must take advantage of new opportunities, adapt their farming businesses to market changes, and improve efficiency and profitability, said Kramer.