4th from left: Senior Research Officer – Plant Pathology, Mr Toloi Vasuidreketi, College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Dean Dr Kaliova Ravuiwasa with representatives attending the Plant Health Clinics 3-week course.

SUVA, FIJI – The Fiji National University’s (FNU) College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF) this week launched a regional short course on Plant Health Clinics.

The programme marks another major step in strengthening biosecurity, crop health, and food security across the Pacific region. It brings together key stakeholders and experts to enhance skills, improve plant health services, and support sustainable farming systems.

The opening was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Live and Learn Fiji, and participants from across the region, including the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji.

College Dean, Dr Kaliova Ravuiwasa, acknowledged the strong partnership and support from government ministries and the agricultural research community.

“This initiative is more than just training, it’s about securing our region’s future in agriculture,” said Dr Ravuiwasa.

“Food security, export growth, and sustainability are key pillars of our agricultural strategy, and Plant Health Clinics play a vital role in achieving these goals.”

The three-week training is supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), which has played a key role in plant health efforts in the Pacific. ACIAR’s involvement began in 1996, with the regional Plant Health Clinics officially launched in 2016. Since then, Fiji has hosted more than 30 training sessions and 50 community-based clinics, reaching over 1,000 farmers and 500 extension officers.

Senior Research Officer – Plant Pathology, Mr Toloi Vasuidreketi, is one of the lead facilitators of the programme. He will be guiding participants through practical and theoretical sessions aimed at improving diagnosis, response, and outreach in their respective countries.

This initiative reinforces CAFF’s continued commitment to agricultural innovation, capacity building, and regional collaboration in promoting resilient and sustainable food systems across the Pacific.

ENDS