From left: FNU Landcare Project Team Leader Dr William Kerua, Minister for Agriculture & Waterways Hon. Vatimi Rayalu, Trainer – PNGUOT Mr William Nano, and Landcare Project Manager Ms Aloesi Adimaidrano Dakuidreketi.
Sigatoka, Fiji. Animal feed production can be a costly exercise; however, this is no longer an issue for Fijian farmers after a recent training at the Sigatoka Research Station in Nacocolevu.
The training brought together 36 participants, including lead farmers and livestock extension officers from across Fiji, for a week-long workshop focused on animal feed production using locally grown ingredients.
The training was conducted by Mr William Nano from the School of Agriculture at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUOT) through the South Pacific Institute for Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (SPISARD).
It was funded by the ACIAR Fiji Landcare project with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways (MOA&W), Fiji National University (FNU), and TeiTei Taveuni (TTT).
The need for this training was identified through landcare baseline studies and farmer consultations in Sigatoka and Taveuni, where farmers voiced their concerns about the high cost of commercial livestock feeds.
Second row- 4th from left, Minister for Agriculture & Waterways Hon Vatimi Rayalu with participants and trainers.
Participants are now equipped with the skills to formulate feed rations and produce feed pellets using various locally available ingredients. The training provided practical applications and demonstrations.
Ovanalagi Susuwai, a poultry farmer from Namatakula, Nadroga, said the training was an eye-opener for her and other participants.
“We have so many resources around us that we can use as livestock feed. I am so grateful for this learning experience and will surely put into practice what I have learnt during the week,” said Susuwai.
Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Honourable Vatimi Rayalu, presented certificates of attainment to the participants on the final day.
He acknowledged the high cost of commercial feeds.
“Since feed costs in livestock production account for about 60-70 percent of the total production cost, this critically affects farmers’ profitability. Farmers are eager to trial alternative feed sources to reduce feed costs and improve profitability,” said Honourable Rayalu.
He added that the training aligned with the Landcare Project’s goals to extend activities to other Pacific Island countries, further strengthening relations between Fiji Landcare project partners, including FNU, and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology through SPISARD.
Extension Officer -Sigatoka Ifran Ali receiving Certificate of Attainment from the Minister for Agriculture & Waterways Hon Vatimi Rayalu.
The Minister highlighted that similar training should be conducted to enhance smallholder farmers’ knowledge and skills for increased sustainable farm production, thus securing food security and increasing household income—priorities for the Ministry.
“This training does not end here. As farmers and officers, you will participate in a collaborative action research project to collect data comparing the use of local ingredients with commercial feeds,” said Honourable Rayalu.
The Ministry acknowledges the contributions of the Landcare Project partners, including FNU for coordinating the expertise of PNGUOT, MOA&W and TeiTei Taveuni under the ACIAR Landcare Project.
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