Women encouraged to apply for a range of farming support programmes

Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Viam Pillay says Women in Agriculture is an initiative developed to increase women's participation and encourage women clusters around Fiji to apply for a range of farming support.

He says to apply for this, women clusters should be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Women, and should have been active for at least two successive years with the minimum of five active members.

He says 500 recipients are targeted for this initiative and assistance provided includes farming support for nursery materials, farming packages worth $500 for individuals and $2,500 for women clusters.

Pillay says this initiative targets women in rural and maritime areas and is aimed at providing food and nutrition security increasing commercial agriculture ventures, and eliminating inequality.