David Kolitagane with the dairy farmers in Tailevu.

There is a need to lift the dairy sector to another level to realise its full potential.

Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, David Kolitagane highlighted this to the dairy farmers in Tailevu during his consultative visit to livestock farmers in the Central Division.

Kolitagane informed the farmers about the services and resources available within the Ministry and also requested farmers to liaise more effectively with them and its stakeholders to progress and develop the dairy industry.

He says farmers have made a lot of sacrifice and even though Government support and expertise is being offered, there is still room for improvement and they want to deliver services more effectively.

Kolitagane also highlighted the country’s growth assessment over nine years indicating an average growth rate of 2.5 to three per cent, of which a significant contribution can be attributed to the agriculture sector.

He visited farmers of Tonia, Waidawara, and Sawakasa in Tailevu and also held informal discussions with farmers of the Waidalice Dairy Cluster, before meeting with the Fiji Cooperative Dairy Company Limited.